Bohol town mayor claims Evasco will run for guv

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., will be gunning for the gubernatorial post of Bohol come 2019, according to a town mayor, who requested anonymity.

The mayor said that Evasco, former mayor of Maribojoc town, however told town mayors of the province — during a recent meeting — that he won’t respond to media interviews when asked about his political plans.

In recent months though, Evasco’s presence in some speaking engagements had fueled speculations of his interest to run for the highest post of the province, but he repeatedly neither confirm nor deny such claim.

The mayor said that Evasco may not have told them categorically that he is it for governor, but his “body language” says otherwise, he said.

The Cabinet secretary was quoted as telling the mayors that if he throws his hat into the gubernatorial race in 2019, then President Rodrigo Duterte will personally come to Bohol to endorse him.

The mayor said the president has committed to help campaign for Evasco because “dako ang iyang utang” when Evasco, then Duterte’s campaign manager, was instrumental in the latter’s victory in the 2016 elections.

If ever Evasco will make the decision for governor next year, it would appear he will be unopposed provided that last-termer 3rd district Representative Arthur Yap, who earlier hinted his interest to run for the post, would get a Cabinet post that he had wanted.

The source said that Yap would forego his ambition governorship only in exchange for a Cabinet post — director-general of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). Yap had wanted to be the chief of NEDA, which incidentally is now headed by a Boholano economist Ernesto Pernia.

The mayor however said that when Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III heard of Yap’s plan, he told Pernia about it. “Pernia was not happy,” he added.

Manifestations of Yap on his ambition to be governor of Bohol have been evident in the tarps — bearing his name and family greetings — during local events such as fiestas, and foundation day celebrations, among others — even in other towns not in his district (3rd), an official said.

Duterte, while still Davao City mayor or days before his election to the presidency, had asked Evasco how much he needs to run for governor in Bohol.

Now, the call for Evasco to run for governor are getting louder and even trending in the social media. Lawyer MacAldous Cantanares said he initiated the Evasco For Governor Movement, which has been getting attention online. He said he posted a call for Evasco to run for governor, and many have shared his post.