The unity tandem of Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell “Baba” Yap II and Vice Mayor Jose Antonio “Toto” Veloso cannot sacrifice what the mayor calls the wisdom and independence of the next Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).

The executive respect for the  character of the legislature as co-equal in the dispensation of mandate can be more of a  triumph  for the city.

Yap said this is to sustain the gains of the governance of Bohol’s lone city and provincial capital since he and Veloso assumed as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, in 2013.

The final unified Yap-Veloso council slate is officially sealed this week with the opening tomorrow of the week-long period for the filing of the candidacy.

By its perceived vote-getting capacity, the Yap-Veloso dream duo could be the strongest ever assembled in the electoral history since Tagbilaran’s cityhood over half a century ago.

Veloso is a brother-in-law of Gov. Edgar Chatto and also in the unity council line-up is Kag. Agustinus Gonzaga, a borther-in-law of First District Rep. Rene Relampagos.

Chatto, Relampagos and Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim form the powerful triumvirate of the administration Liberal Party (LP) in Bohol.

Gonzaga failed in his 2013 mayoralty bid to Yap but just by a “recoverable” vote difference in a three-cornered fight, but his runningmate, Veloso, won over the mayor’s lady tandem who is a former councilor..

While they had not been politically aligned until the successful make-or-break meeting the other Saturday, Yap thanked Veloso for supporting the important administration measures that have passed thru the lawmaking mills.

As vice mayor, Veloso presides over the SP, which is the highest policy-making body of the city government.

Both Chatto and Relampagos brokered the sealing of the Yap-Veloso-plus Gonzaga unification in a crucial dialogue at the Governor’s Mansion.

Yap has foreseen this early a healthier executive-legislative relation without disregarding the wisdom of the council as a fiscalizer in a government of mutual esteem and common vision for the best good of the greatest number.

Many have projected the Yap-Veloso tie-up to deliver the most of welfare goods to the people of Tagbilaran with the Bohol leaders   solid back-up. (Ven rebo Arigo)