Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim says the issue that led to the passage of a resolution declaring Poblacion II barangay councilor Roberto “Batchoy” Alba persona non grata is the latter's disrespect. “He had no business intruding into the affairs of the diocese of Tagbilaran,” Lim declared. The mayor added that it was not a question of who is right or wrong on the controversy involving the disgruntled parishioners of Dauis parish church and Bishop Leonardo Medroso but Alba's interference. “Who does Batchoy think he is to interfere and more so pass comment on a purely internal matter of the church?” the mayor stressed. Lim pointed out that Alba is a barangay councilor of Poblacion II and therefore is a public official who is “a virtual extension of the city government”. To allow him to savage Medroso without making a stand is to give the impression that the city government approves of his actuations. The mayor said that in making snide remarks and especially when he encouraged disrespect for the bishop, Alba has “gone overboard”. “He crossed the line as far as the separation of church and state is concerned,” he declared.

The mayor however noted that even if he did not, the issue is Alba's utter disrespect for Medroso and the institution which he stands for. Lim also took time out to explain that Alba and the media organization he represents continue to mislead the people when they insist on turning the controversy into a forum for press freedom. “Alba is not a legitimate broadcaster because he is a public official who is involved in partisan politics,” he added. The mayor pointed out that Alba ran and lost twice for the city council, the last time under the slate of Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso in 2007. “We can never expect him to be apolitical because he already declared himself as a politician when he engaged in partisan political activity,” he added. Lim said the decent thing Alba could have done was to refrain from making comments on a purely internal matter of the church being a public official and a political partisan. “Instead, Alba disregarded his responsibilities and nearly compromised the city with his irresponsible statements,” he added.

The mayor said that instead of censuring Alba for his disrespect for the church, the mayor said his media organization supported Alba unconditionally. Lim noted that DYRD not only let loose the attack on him and the councilors who voted to declare Alba persona non grata but even made negative comments against the diocese and the church. “Bishop Medroso is right when he expressed sadness over the disrespect for institutions and norms of society,” the mayor added. At the same time, Lim chided Veloso and Councilors Zenaido Rama, Anne Mariquit Oppus and Bebiano Inting for their actuations during the deliberation over the Alba issue. Veloso relinquished the chair, Rama walked out while Oppus and Inting abstain. “If we evaluate their statements after the resolution was passed, it is clear that they supported Batchoy over the church,” the mayor said. Lim declared that while they did not actively take part in the deliberation when the issue was taken up on the floor, they showed later on that they actually supported Alba. The mayor accused the four of “playing safe” so as not to antagonize the Catholic church but they actually took the side of Alba over the church.