City Mayor Dan Neri Lim yesterday minced no words in expressing his displeasure over allegations that he was involved in the illegal numbers game popularly known as “suertres” while at the same time being blamed for doing nothing to stop the racket. Saying that he was caught in a damn-if-you-do-damn-if-you-don't situation, Mayor Lim reacted strongly to insinuations that he was one of the protectors nay financiers of this form of illegal gambling. In reaction to the so-called relentless campaign waged by Police Senior Supt. Constantino Paul Barot, Jr., provincial director of the Philippine National Police, to stamp out suertres, Lim said “it's about the singer, not the song”.

By this analogy, Lim said the anti-suertres campaign was more” directed against me and not really intended to kill the numbers game”. An obviously irate Lim announced over his radio program yesterday that he was offering cash rewards to informants who will come out with affidavits to identify financiers. “If you want to win, this is one way for you to be a winner without going through the raffle,” the mayor declared. The mayor also challenged Barot to go after every financier without discrimination. “If they drop my name, arrest them and file charges against them in court,” he added. Instead, Lim said he heard reports that it is primarily directed only at his perceived allies “and those who link me to it”.

The mayor noted that contrary to the reports coming out in the media, the illegal numbers game is still going strong – but with new players involved. Lim said he has been informed that financiers from Cagayan de Oro City and Cebu have invaded Bohol to take the place of the operations of local boys who were neutralized by the police. “Something fishy is going on,” he noted. Lim said his sources informed him that the new players were allowed to operate on condition that they will point to him as the protector when they are arrested. “It is now clear that this campaign is primarily intended to destroy me politically but is not sincere in eradicating an illegal activity,” the mayor added. He also noted that illegal gambling is still going on in Balilihan which makes it more suspicious. “If the campaign is going to be credible, it must start with Balilihan,” the mayor pointed out. He said that firstly, it is the hometown of Gov. Edgar Chatto. “What conclusion will we make if illegal gambling is killed in other towns but untouched in Balilihan?” he asked.

The mayor also pointed out that Barot is no stranger to the area since his wife is a native of the town and because he was once assigned there. Lim said he heard that the provincial director met most of the gambling operators in Balilihan during his stint there. “I'm not saying they are his friends. I am saying that he knows them,” the mayor clarified. Thirdly, he pointed out that Balilihan is a small place “where everyone knows everybody”. The mayor said that if the police cannot stop swertres in Balilihan, people will start to suspect that someone is protecting it. Lim said that he has a feeling that one year from now, illegal gambling will still be alive in Bohol. “It will not be gone just because it was announced in the media,” he added. On the contrary, the mayor said he is afraid that Bohol will run out of police officials if the “one-strike” policy is going to be strictly implemented. “It will take more than just police action because gamblers will demand in return that officials will also be sincere in office,” he added. At the rate things are going which he said is not much different than a circus visiting different towns, the novelty will wear off.