CEBU CITY – Synchronized prayer rallies will be held in Bohol to show support for suspended Gov. Aris Aumentado and eight incumbent mayors.

AUMENTADO
The prayer rallies will be spearheaded by the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Bohol Chapter.
President Carlos P. Garcia Mayor Fernando Estavilla, president of LMP-Bohol, said mayors in Bohol are set to meet on Friday, May 31, to discuss the planned prayer rallies.
“Atong hangyuon ang mga mayor nga mo-participate kay atong ipaabot sa national ug sa katibuk-ang nasud nga ang taga-Bohol nagpakabana mi. Kung naa mi kasaypanan, andam mi mopakorek sa angay buhaton (We will appeal to the mayors to participate because we would want to convey to the national and entire country that the people in Bohol are paying attention. If we have done something wrong, we are ready to do what is necessary to correct it),” said Estavilla in a report by Bohol Island News.
Aumentado is one of the 69 government officials who were suspended for six months by the Office of the Ombudsman over the controversial construction of a resort within the Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan town, Bohol.
The suspended incumbent mayors were Restituto Suarez III (Sagbayan), Antonino Jumawid (Batuan), Elizabeth Pace (Catigbian), Eugeniano Ibarra (Clarin), Norman Palacio (Bilar), Michael Doria (Sierra Bullones), Dionisio Neil Balite (Valencia), and Conchita Toribio delos Reyes (Carmen).
The Ombudsman also suspended 31 barangay chiefs and six barangay councilors. Also suspended was Perfecto Bambe, a tourism official in Bilar town who died in 2021.
Former and current officials from various government agencies were also suspended.
Estavilla described the suspension as severe but emphasized that he respect the decision of the Ombudsman.
He added that LMP will provide legal assistance to the mayors who plan to file a motion for consideration.
The Manila Bulletin tried to seek Aumentado’s reaction regarding his next course of action.
“We will not talk about the matter for now,” said Aumentado.