With all those tarpaulins embedding messages of “Happy Fiesta”, it appears that no force on earth will stop him from being counted as one of the congressional hopefuls representing the first district.

That being the case, it means fiesta goers attending the feast of the Holy Rosary in Antequera On Oct. 30-31, will not be surprised seeing the smiling face of Catigbian Mayor Roberto “Bert Sal” Salinas in tarpaulin ads.

The fiesta greetings of Mayor Salinas in Antequera are competing for attention with happy fiesta messages of Cong. Edgar Chatto, V-Gov. Julius Ceasar Herrera and Cong. Roberto “Ondoy” Cajes who is reported to be running for vice governor.

If no mediation is possible, Chatto and Herrera will scramble for the post of heir apparent of Gov. Erico Aumentado. Both Chatto and Herrera are already bracing for a battle royale, a showdown that will surely change Bohol’s political landscape.

In a check with the amiable Catigbian mayor, he said the blanketing of fiesta messages in Antequera, signals his entry in the first district congressional ballgame.

He said that heretofore any fiesta in the first district will now include the ubiquitous greetings of Mayor Salinas.

Banking on the support of the administration party, the Lakas-Kampi CMD, the mayor’s entry in the congressional fray is the best thing that ever happens to his colorful political career.

Still eligible to run for a third and final term, Mayor Salinas chooses to forego reelection in favor of hitting a higher target—that of becoming the next first district congressman.

As for the post to be vacated by the incumbent congressman (Chatto), the position is becoming a nobody’s game as no candidate enjoys the resources of a re-electionist.

With the congressional post a level playing field, Salinas’ chances are as equal as any pretender to the coveted plum.

So far, former governor Rene Relampagos is trying to make a comeback bid via the vacated Congress seat of Chatto.

In choosing to run for Congress, Salinas is bringing with him an impressive credential of turning around a sleepy municipality into a burstling growth center.

His backers are hoping that with Salinas’ no nonsense brand of leadership, he will be able to duplicate what he did in Catigbian to other sleepy towns of the first district.

Salinas’ bankability is also anchored on the fact that he heads the League of Municipalities, Bohol chapter. As the “mayors’ mayor”, he is getting all the encouragement he needs from his colleagues in the LMP to take the congressional plunge with the assurance that they will rally behind him in his first district Congress bid.