The story involving City Mayor Dan Neri Lim reportedly caught in a “urine spectacle” aboard a commercial flight from this city to Manila late Friday afternoon went viral as the usual critics put the city executive in a bad light of what appeared to be an act unbecoming to a top city official, if reports are to be believed. The Post expressed reservation in making a conclusive take of the “piss story” after an exclusive interview with Mayor Lim indicated otherwise. During the “Aksyon Journalismo” segment of TV 5 heard during weeknights at 10:30 PM, the TV station reported that Mayor Lim displayed his genital when refused to be allowed to go to the rest room while the airplane was still taxiing at the old domestic airport runway. While the seat belt was on, Lim reportedly asked permission from the pilot and the flight stewardees identified as Camille Diaz for him to urinate because his kidneys were on the verge of bursting. A certified diabetic, anyone with this ailment will have difficulty stopping the urge to urinate, hence the compelling reason for Lim to do his thing even if it was a no-no while aboard an airplane as the fasten-your-seatbelt sign is still on. Asked to react on the TV report, Lim said it was his word against the airline’s personnel.

The city mayor took the late afternoon flight from this city to Manila aboard the Zest Air, one of the commercial airliners plying the Tagbilaran-Manila-Tagbilaran route. The other two airlines are Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific which have their own daily schedules in the same route. A video clip of the TV segment was uploaded in You Tube after the news was aired making it an overnight sensation in the Internet. As the news went viral all over the Internet’s social networking sites, the same band of detractors went on overdrive asking concerned city residents if they were also recipients of text messages asking cell phone holders if they heard the Zest Air “display of the mayor’s manhood”. Lim who has his own share of harsh critics especially in radio was at the receiving end of bitter vernal attacks. Reeking of sarcasm, a radio critic went as far as ridiculing Lim saying he was at a loss whether to air the Lim spectacle or suppressed it. He aired it just the same.

LIM VERSION

While Lim was pilloried left and right in the Internet, he remained cool and collected given his supposed brush with the so-called “ airline scandal”. Reacting to the news report, Lim yesterday said the allegation that he undressed in front of an airline stewardess was merely the result of her fertile imagination. “I really don’t know how she arrived at that conclusion. As far as I could remember, I just pleaded with her to use the lavatory. I didn’t know she had very fertile imagination,” he said. The mayor initially vowed to file a case against airlines stewardess Camille Rose Diaz who accused him of sexual harassment while the plane was taxiing to a stop at the old domestic airport Saturday evening but said he is having second thoughts. “For a while I though my reputation was tarnished but I realized it is nothing but an irresponsible and vicious accusation that is incredible,” the mayor said in an exclusive interview. Except for the news that came out on TV, the mayor said the only adverse reaction was the efforts of his political rivals to exploit the issue which did not surprise him. Aside from the radio commentators identified with Lim’s opponents and the use of social networking sites by the same personalities, the mayor said it is no longer an issue.

Lim said that while ABS-CBN initially arranged for a live interview with him, they did not pursue the story when they learned that there was no formal complaint. “Only a sick mind will believe that such a thing can happen,” he added. Lim left for Manila late Friday afternoon via Zest Air to catch a Christmas party hosted by Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay. What was supposed to be a festive celebration in the metropolis turned into a nightmare when a stewardess accused him of sexually exposing himself before the plane could come to a complete stop after landing safely at the NAIA 3. The mayor said that as soon as the plane touched the tarmac, he stood from his seat because he had to hurriedly go to the lavatory. The stewardess, however, refused to allow him, citing airline regulations that no one is allowed to stand unless the plane has come to a complete stop. Lim said that much as he wanted to, he felt that he explained to the stewardess that he was a diabetic hoping that the stewardess would understand his condition. “It was a call of nature and when nature calls, you cannot say no,” he added.

The mayor also requested her to call the captain and relay his request but the latter refused and instead arrogantly told her that if she were the captain, she would do the same thing. At this time, he became desperate because of his predicament frantically telling the stewardess that he is no longer capable of holding back and warned her that he might just have to do it right there in his seat. Hearing this, the stewardess was forced to call the pilot and relayed the mayor’s request which was granted. Lim said he thought that was the end of it. He was wrong. When he emerged from the lavatory, the stewardess was already crying, claiming that she had been humiliated by his indecent exposure. It turned out that she had already radioed for police assistance so when the mayor alighted from the plane, he was escorted straight to the airport police station where he was informed of the complaint against him. From there, he was taken to the Southern Police District for documentation. “I have never been so humiliated and embarrassed in my life,” the mayor recalled.

He pointed out that as a result, he was all over the news in Metro Manila early Saturday morning, prompting frantic calls from his family and friends who were disturbed and affected. Lim said the crews of other airlines are already aware of his medical condition which is the reason he always takes a seat close to the lavatory. “During flights that take one hour or more, I have to relieve myself at least once,” he explained. The mayor, who described himself as a frequent flyer, said that this was only the third time that he has taken Zest Air. “My first impression of the airline was good that is the reason I actually endorsed it to my friends and my constituents,” he added. The mayor said he is still studying his options “because I want to enjoy my Christmas vacation”. Lim insists he did nothing irregular or obscene. “If being a diabetic is a crime, then I plead guilty. I equally guilty of all its symptoms,” he added. Asked if there is anything she wants to say to Diaz, Lim was unequivocal. “My Christmas wish for her is that she will not have diabetes because I don’t want her to suffer what we diabetics are going through,” the mayor said.