21 December 2005
Lim distancing from JDV – or the other way around?
DID MAYOR Benjamin S. Lim intentionally skip the trip to Singapore widely perceived as a Christmas treat for allies of House Speaker Jose de Venecia among the mayors of the fourth district?
Except for Lim, all the mayors of the district – Mojamito Libunao of San Fabian, Herminio Romero of Mangaldan, Rolando Columbres of San Jacinto, and Napoleon Sales of Manaoag left this week for the prosperous city-state with a sidetrip reportedly to Malaysia.
Lim’s action may be viewed as an indication of a growing chasm between the two political leaders although publicly De Venecia has tried to shrug this off as mere speculation and intrigue.
Lim stumped his Lakas partymates, especially the House Speaker, when he joined the call for President Macapagal-Arroyo to step down from office in the wake of alleged rigging in her favor of the 2004 presidential election results.
Lim, being a Lakas party member, obviously only toed the line during the last elections but many sectors believe he was for the late Fernando Poe, Jr. in the last presidential elections.
At the height of the controversy caused by the “Hello Garci” scandal, the mayor welcomed with open arms Poe’s widow, Susan Roces, when she came to Dagupan City to press her call for the President to resign. That incident widened the gap all the more between him and the administration.
Political observers said it is very possible De Venecia and the mayor could find themselves rivals in the next congressional election if their political differences worsen further.
Except for Lim, all the mayors of the district – Mojamito Libunao of San Fabian, Herminio Romero of Mangaldan, Rolando Columbres of San Jacinto, and Napoleon Sales of Manaoag left this week for the prosperous city-state with a sidetrip reportedly to Malaysia.
Lim’s action may be viewed as an indication of a growing chasm between the two political leaders although publicly De Venecia has tried to shrug this off as mere speculation and intrigue.
Lim stumped his Lakas partymates, especially the House Speaker, when he joined the call for President Macapagal-Arroyo to step down from office in the wake of alleged rigging in her favor of the 2004 presidential election results.
Lim, being a Lakas party member, obviously only toed the line during the last elections but many sectors believe he was for the late Fernando Poe, Jr. in the last presidential elections.
At the height of the controversy caused by the “Hello Garci” scandal, the mayor welcomed with open arms Poe’s widow, Susan Roces, when she came to Dagupan City to press her call for the President to resign. That incident widened the gap all the more between him and the administration.
Political observers said it is very possible De Venecia and the mayor could find themselves rivals in the next congressional election if their political differences worsen further.
