The more candidates, the merrier it will be in next year's elections in Tagbilaran City. This was the reaction of Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim to the possibility of the mayoralty bids of former Mayor Jose Torralba, ex-Gov. Rene Relampagos and Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso. The mayor was asked to react on the reports that Torralba, whom he beat in 2007 with the biggest winning margin, is starting to make the rounds to fight him again. At the same time, the registration of Relampagos in Tagbilaran after a failed bid in the third congressional district fanned suspicion that he would be running for city mayor this time. Veloso's candidacy was long anticipated considering his high-profile and oftentimes over-eager forays into the executive department. “It can only means that there are many people who are eager to serve Tagbilaran,” Lim declared.

The mayor admitted however that he would be “disappointed” if the expected one-on-one with Veloso does not materialize. “He has been accusing me of everything so next year's polls will be a referendum on whether he has succeeded in undermining the people's confidence in me or not,” he added. The mayor also conceded that the emergence of the names of Torralba and Relampagos shows that Veloso is not considered a viable alternative even to those who want him replaced. “I pity (Veloso). Even those who hate me do not want him in my place,” Lim noted. Lim disclosed he does not mind a one-on-one return fight with Torralba considering that the latter beat him many times in the past. As for Relampagos, Lim said the former governor believes he has been vindicated in the city when he won over Gov. Erico Aumentado in 2004.

“This way we will know if Tagbilaran really forgave him for selling the power and water utilities or it was just to punish Gov. Aumentado for reneging on his promise of a buy-back,” Lim added. The mayor said everybody has a right to run in the election. “Bingo Dejaresco, Peter Dejaresco, Atty. Victor de la Serna and all those who think they know how to run the city government better can run for office next year,” he added. Lim said that if half of the reports coming out from DYRD and the Bohol Chronicle are true, then he is the most abusive, corrupt, anomalous, dirty, and unpopular mayor in the history of Tagbilaran. The mayor added that he is not even afraid about reports coming from the Dejaresco-owned media outlets that he will be suspended saying this will either vindicate or bury him. “If the people believe half of what they are saying, anybody can win against me in any election,” the mayor added.