By the grace of God, I won as governor of IBP Eastern Mindanao in the elections held at the Butuan Regional Trial Court.”
This was the text message of young lawyer Israelito “Bobbet” Torreon to Edge Davao editor Tony Ajero last week.
“It was a very tough, challenging and high-level fight. The vote was a 6-6 tie and I won by the toss of a coin,” continued the text message from Torreon, a former phone-patch radio reporter of DXMC, also called “Radyo Ukay.”
“In the final analysis, it was God who decided that I win. Thanks for all your help and support. I will forever cherish your help for the rest of my life. Shalom!,” he said.
Bobbet said he resigned from his teaching job at the Ateneo de Davao University College of Law, where he coached the school’s debating teams to championships, after he accepted an offer to become dean of the Cor Jesu College of Law in Digos City, where he was based as past IBP president of the Davao del Sur chapter.
The IBP is composed of seven regions in the entire country (Northern and Southern Luzon, Greater Manila Area, Eastern and Western Visayas and Eastern and Western Mindanao). Each region is headed by a regional governor who will sit in the board of governors of the IBP.
The election of governors is held every two years on a synchronized basis in the entire country. IBP follows the rotation-by-exclusion rule. Meaning, chapters which have already been elected are automatically disqualified from fielding a candidate.
The latest rotation was in 2007 when law professor and past IBP Davao City chapter president Ramon Edison Batacan was elected governor.
In 2009, former congressman Roan Libarios (Agusan del Norte) won over Torreon for governor.
This year’s election in Butuan City, Torreon ran again, this time against Atty. Dale Bryan Mordeno, Cagayan de Oro-Misamis IBP chapter immediate past president). Mordeno is an outstanding IBP officer. He was a recipient of the Best Chapter President Award and was the deputy of Libarios when he was Eastern Mindanao governor. He was reportedly supported by his fellow Freemasons in and out of the legal profession.
IBP Eastern Mindanao has 11 chapters with 12 voting delegates, Davao City being entitled to two voting delegates. The 11 chapters are Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Bukidnon, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Camiguin and CDO-Misamis Oriental.
All the delegates were present in the Butuan City election where secret balloting was the rule.
After winning the tie-breaker via a coin toss, Torreon was immediately proclaimed governor to serve for two years.
“I intend to try to heal the divisions within IBP by initiating activities which will promote unity.
One such activity is the revival of the IBP Mindanao Palaro. Another is the holding of family days in each chapter so that members will have the opportunity to bond with each other,” he said.
“I intend to publish an IBP governor’s circular which will contain the latest information about chapters, the latest jurisprudence and developments in the legal profession.
“I intend to make the governor’s office the focal point of information on IBP matters, especially on MCLE requirements which is the prevalent problem among provincial lawyers.
“I also intend to continue to make the IBP the spokesperson of the people by airing their concerns to the national government on pressing issues.”
“These and more I intend to do, hopefully with the support of the members, including my few detractors whom I intend to convert into friends, with the blessing of the Lord Almighty,” he said.
