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Political
jockeying as to who will be the official bets of the administration
coalition in this capital city in the forthcoming elections
is brewing, apparently disregarding party rules for political
convenience.
City
Mayor Dan Neri Lim said in his weekly "Mayor's Report"
over DyRD yesterday that his affiliation with President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo's party Kabalikat sa Mamayang Pilipino (Kampi)
is being barred by the three Bohol congressmen.
The
mayor said he learned that Congressman Edgar M. Chatto (1st
Dist.) has allegedly blocked his application with Kampi through
Congressman Roberto C. Cajes (2nd Dist) to help him (Chatto)
convince First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to refuse Lim's application.
Efforts
to contact Cajes in his cellphone for comment proved futile.
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Chatto,
in a phone interview yesterday afternoon, ostensibly
debunked Lim's allegation. He said that what they (coalition)
presented to the President was an approved Resolution
calling for the respect of the unification of Kampi
and Lakas in Bohol.
Chatto
explained that the said Resolution was not apparently
meant for the mayor's denial to Kampi's membership but
just a call for respect of the unification.
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He
added that the passage of the Resolution was the initiative
of Bohol leaders and it was signed by all Bohol Lakas coalition
leaders including Gov. Erico Aumentado, the three congressmen
and Inabanga Mayor Roygie Jumamoy, president of League of
Municipalities of the Philippines Bohol chapter.
The
mayor also bared that he verified this with Congressman Eladio
M. Jala. The latter (Jala) denied having a hand on Chatto's
move.
Kampi
is said to be one of the political parties under the administration
coalition. Other political parties in the coalition of GMA's
administration include the Liberal Party-Atienza wing of Manila
City, Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) and the ruling
Lakas-Christian-Muslim Democrats headed by then President
Fidel V. Ramos.
The
mayor however said that even with this unfavorable development
he "will not go opposition," saying that he will
always support the leadership of the President.
In
fact, he said, he is very grateful to the President's confidence
in him running the city government during his first term and
for assistance given to his administration by Malacanang through
Gov. Erico Aumentado.
In
spite of this alleged unfriendly move of the congressmen,
Lim said that he will not compromise the interest of the majority
of Tagbilaranons, whom he has sworn to serve.
The
Lim-Chatto feud heightened recently following the perceived
rivalry between the incumbent Vice-Mayor Jas Montes and number
one city councilor Jose Antonio Veloso as to who would be
the standard bearer for vice-mayoralty.
Veloso,
the brother of Chatto's wife Pureza, was reportedly eyeing
for the city's second top post, which he vehemently denied.
Montes,
the top Lakas incumbent official in the city, is being groomed
to be the runningmate of Lim but the latter has not yet confirmed
this. The mayor said that he could run alone without a slate.
(RVO)
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