While other politicians are busy pumping hands to gain pogi points, this no-nonsense mayor has her hands full going after lawless elements threatening the peace and tranquility of the length and breath of her municipality. This was the image projected by City Mayor Dan Neri Lim to her ward, Carmen Mayor Che Toribio delos Reyes as he stepped up the political accelerator for the feisty lady mayor to finally say “yes” to overtures to run for governor against incumbent Gov. Edgar Chatto. Until the latest tirades were unleased by the city mayor against his sworn enemy, two of Bohol’s colorful political personalities-Chatto and Lim, are at loggerheads that only the next election will decide the fate of who between the two is the “odd man out”. The deep-seated animosity between Chatto and Lim becomes more pronounced and telling as soon as the city mayor succeeds in prodding Mayor Che to run for governor. Although dismissed by Gov. Chatto as nothing but a media creation, Mayor Che was observed to be entertaining the possibility that she will go for it—run for governor.

In fact, unconfirmed reports have it that she will make the formal announcement—whether to run or not, after the Holy Week. As Mayor Che’s kingmaker, Lim cited the Carmen mayor’s peace and order program in her municipality where it was public knowledge that she is always the spearhead of almost all police operations involving criminals in her town. As if likening Mayor Che to Carmen’s lady version of Wyatt Earp, the city mayor made his strongest endorsement yet for the candidacy of the lady mayor during his weekly radio program “Ang Mayor Sa Dakbayan” carried live over Station DyTR every Saturday morning. Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929) was an American investor and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. He is most well known for his part in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral during which three outlaw Cowboys were killed. The 30-second gunfight defined the rest of his life. Earp's modern-day reputation is that of the Old West's "toughest and deadliest gunman of his day." The Wyatt Earp tag of Mayor Che is another compliment to her reform-oriented governance as she ruled Carmen as a first termer mayor where it is characterized as revolutionary in the best tradition of how Che Guevarra, the Bolivian freedom fighter, who stirred revolutions in Latin America when it was under the grip of feudal lords.

SHADY CHARACTERS

Lim was the first Boholano politician to root for Toribio when she hit the ground running in her peace and order drive to rid Carmen of shady characters. The mayor pointed out that Toribio dismantled the biggest crime syndicate operating in Carmen on her second day in office. “If that is not strong determination and courage, I don’t know what is,” he added. Lim has consistently argued that peace and order is very important in local governance. “Who will go to their farms if their lives are no longer safe? What businessman will expand his business operation if this will only be given over to holduppers and thieves? When people no longer feel secure, they will no longer aspire for progress,” he declared. Lim said he will not even talk of progress in the provincial level “because that is already too far off”. “Let us start right in our own backyard because this is the yardstick to determine where we are going,” he added.

The mayor said that if one’s neighborhood is no longer safe, more so in the rest of the province. “If we cannot deal with the present threats, how much more with those in the coming years?” he asked. Lim said this is the reason why he is encouraging Toribio to enlarge her vision and her efforts. “Carmen is too small for her,” he added. On the other hand, he said there is no more time left to waste because the threats are growing by the day. “If we cannot deal with them while they are still small, how much more when they have grown beyond control?” he asked. Because of what she has shown, he said the people of Carmen have realized that the criminal elements can still be contained if the leader is sincere and determined. “Today, they can now start to dream about how they can improve their lot because their town is already safe,” he added. Lim, however, was quick to point out that Carmen is only a small part of the province. “Even if it is peaceful now, there is still no assurance for people in other parts where crime is still a real and present danger,” he added.

The mayor pointed out that the pain of the smallest finger is felt by the entire body. “With what she has shown this early, Mayor Che is the kind of leader that we need to meet head-on the dangers of our time,” he added. Lim likened the voting process to a business competition. “The more choices we have, the better for the consumer,” he added. The mayor said it would not look good for Gov. Edgar Chatto if he is elected simply because no one is running against him. Lim said that if Chatto really has accomplished much as his propagandists claim, he has nothing to fear. “But if this is all gimmick, then he has all the reasons to be afraid,” the mayor concluded.