Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim has offered to take a leave of absence from the Institute of Solidarity in Asia (ISA) in the wake of fresh efforts to embarrass the city before the prestigious institution. The mayor revealed that he has written Dr. Jesus Estanislao, ISA chairman and president to express his willingness to go on leave if he has become a burden to ISA. “I am willing to make a sacrifice,” Lim, an ISA fellow, declared. The mayor said he was informed that a poison letter was sent to Estanislao enumerating the issues supposedly plaguing the city government. Attached to the letter were photocopies of clippings of news items, editorials and columns of two newspapers critical of the mayor.

“Curiously, it came months after the Bohol Chronicle reported that the ISA will take back the recognition it has given to Tagbilaran as one of its dream cities,” Lim said. The mayor said this is too much of a coincidence and believed this is part of the orchestrated campaign to bring him down in next year's election. Lim however did not take the latest challenge sitting down. “If you think I am guilty, file more cases in court,” he dared his unnamed accusers. Calling his opponents cowards for hiding behind anonymity, Lim said this only reflects their insincerity. Lim said that if they are fearless as they pride themselves to be, they should attack him instead of embarrassing the city. The mayor said he is sad that just as Tagbilaran has started to attack attention and gain recognition for its efforts, his enemies are trying to negate all the strides.

“They have not done anything beyond lip service and now they want to take away even the little that we have accomplished,” he added.  Lim said that the recognition given by ISA and the Asian Institute of Management is not his but rightfully belongs to the people of Tagbilaran. “These recognitions were given after a careful process that involved proper documentation every step of the way,” he noted. The mayor said that in their efforts to discredit him, his enemies are actually embarrassing the city and its people. He pointed out that many cities have started looking up to Tagbilaran as a model but the respect that they give to the Tagbilaran is now being eroded by “people who claim to be Tagbilaranons but who love only themselves.” To prevent that from happening, Lim said he has asked to go on leave from ISA. “If I am out of the way, they might stop creating trouble at ISA and AIM and allow the city to keep its dignity intact,” he added.