The elections for the coveted seat of the Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL)-Bohol may not be a three-way race after all. With the entry of newly-minted City Councilor-elect Alexander “Aleckoy” Lim, the PCL derby promises to be a slambang event with the new entrant believed to be packing a lot of financial wallop giving all three pretenders “ a run for their money”. A sought-after lawyer in his own right while earning lucrative moolahs by the sides through big-ticket real estate deals, Lim has emerged as the “WMD” in the upcoming PCL-Bohol election, with hundreds of councilors across Bohol already signifying their commitment of support for Lim’s PCL dream. “If Aleckoy were a country, he belongs to the so-called elite circle of nuclear-armed nations, and he is so capable of deploying weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in pinpoint accuracy and blinding speed, with a promise of mutually assured destruction (MAD) to any challenger,” observed a political analyst in Bohol who declined to be named due to his sensitive position in government.

The analyst, who is privy to Lim’s secret arsenal of political power, said the PCL election in Bohol “will really see a financially bloody combat so brutal as such has never happened before, and would leave losers an overnight pauper.” “It is just inevitable that you would consider Aleckoy as a formidable force to reckon with, and his entry into the PCL derby should not catch his opponents by surprise,” the source said. The source noted that he is counting the possible backings of some political heavyweights in the province, including Gov. Edgar Chatto, Vice-Gov. Concepcion Lim, and congressmen Rene Relampagos, Aris Aumentado, and Art Yap, “whose vast empire of political influence is more than an academic discussion.” Underscoring Atty. Lim’s role in PCL election, the source quipped in Bisayan language: “Kini si Aleckoy mao niy moguba sa taripa sa PCL election sa Bohol.” Sought out to comment on his PCL destiny, Atty. Lim told Sunday Post yesterday that “the flood of Boholano councilors’ support he receives this early is very encouraging and in fact inspiring.”

“I will follow the voice of our fellow legislators,” city councilor-elect Lim said. “The public demand for me to run in the PCL election has been overwhelming so far, and I am truly grateful for the people’s trust and confidence in my ability to overhaul the PCL image.” Speaking in abstract terms, Lim deplored that the PCL has failed people’s expectations and he stressed the need for a new leadership “who would truly represent the voice of the Boholano councilors.” “I have nothing against the incumbent PCL leadership or anyone for that matter, but I cannot just ignore people’s clamor for change and improvement,” Atty. Lim said. Lim pointed out that his election into the PCL would serve as a reaffirmation of the electoral mandate he already received from the people of Tagbilaran who put him in the City Council during the May 13 elections. “I don’t want to verbalize everything that I have in mind right now but one thing is certain – whoever will run in the PCL election cannot expect a smooth-sailing election because I will fight for change and give our people what they truly deserve,” said Lim, a publisher of one of Bohol’s weekly newspapers, when asked of his combat strategies. Expected as Lim’s political foes are incumbent PCL-Bohol president Ramonito Torrefranca (Carmen town), city councilor-elect Adam Jala, and Antonio Ouano Jr., of Getafe town.