The checkered political career of former city mayor Dan Neri Lim practically ended yesterday after nursing a broken heart resulting from the defeat of his wife as Dao barangay captain aspirant. In his radio program over radio station DYTR yesterday, the former mayor said he was hanging up his political gloves in favor of devoting his time to the family. Lim's retirement in politics, whether tem-porary or permanent, virtually ended his stint in broadcast media after an announcement yesterday that he was terminating his contract with his favorite radio station. This means that DYTR's flagship program “Cuentas Claras” will have to return to its old slot of broadcast—from Monday to Thursday. When Lim tried to resume his broadcast chores after the May elections, he chose to start his radio program every Monday of the week until it was overtaken by unforeseen events.

The outspoken mayor tried a dramatic comeback in Monday's barangay election by fielding 15 candidates in as many barangays but his efforts were not enough to win a commanding majority. Only five of his candidates, who were re-electionists, made it. The winners identified with Lim are re-electionists Manolo Blanco of Mansasa, Leda Saco of Manga, Arleen Karaan of Poblacion I, Nestor Mendez of Bool and Eutorgio Telmo of Booy. The rest of the winners are protégées of incumbent City Mayor John Geesnell ‘Baba' Yap. The result of last Monday's elections of Lim's favored bets was another heartbreaking episode of Lim's colorful political career. In last May's polls, Lim also suffered a debacle of sorts when his candidates for different positions were clobbered by their respective opponents. Among them were Carmen mayor Che Toribio De los Reyes who lost badly to incumbent Gov. Edgar Chatto; his wife Dr. Sharleen Lim for vice governor; Mark Monton for Balilihan mayor; Arleen Karaan for first district board member and Liezel Go for Loon mayor.

The defeat of his wife, Dr. Sharleen, to incumbent kagawad Maximiliano Cornell as Dao barangay captain was apparently the “last straw that broke the camel's back.” Early on, Lim's pronouncements that if his wife lost her bid for barangay captain, he would call it quits, and it proved prophetic as she did lose for a measly margin of 93 votes. A storied character all throughout his political life, Lim met his misfortunes in politics after he tangled with his own nephew in incumbent Mayor Baba Yap. The young nephew delivered the coup de grace when he defeated Lim's elder brother, Dr. Abe Lim, in a three-way contest for city mayor. Dr. Abe was backed up by the ex-mayor. Lim's political career was never the same again after his nephew shattered what remains of his political clout. In the last barangay polls, the young mayor proved to all and sundry that he's the new force to reckon with in city politics. Nine barangay bets who ran under the mayor's protective wing won a clear majority in a slot of 15 representing as many barangays.

Added Misfortunes

After Dan Lim's series of political debacles, nobody wanted to touch him with a ten foot pole, with one after the other whom he considered as his political patrons pushed the eject button and beating a hasty retreat. Ex-city mayor Lim's political misfortunes were further aggravated by the apparent indifference of Vice-President Jojo Binay towards his supposed go-to-man in the province of Bohol. Binay, who has been receiving unsavory remarks about Lim's dismal performance during the last May elections, was reportedly avoiding his former friend as if there's no love lost between them anymore. In the last visit of the vice president to Bohol, the former mayor of Tagbilaran, according to well-placed sources, was not invited to join Binay's entourage in quake-hit towns. Binay's first visit to Bohol on Oct. 17 in the wake of the Oct. 15 killer quake also became both controversial and intriguing when the vice-president chose to be hosted by Congressman Aris Aumentado instead of ex-mayor Lim who was waiting for him at the airport. Sensing that his relationship with Binay has turned sour, Lim announced over his radio program that his only political strength lies at the bosom of Carmen Mayor Che Toribio Delos Reyes. In the Nov. 25 barangay polls, it was reported that only Delos Reyes who extended financial support to certain political bets in the city barangays. The fighting former lady mayor reportedly gave P100,000 to each of Lim's candidates. But Binay, who was reportedly irked over ex-mayor Lim's attempts to control his political affairs in Bohol, was not counted as a funding source.

REACTIONS TO LIM'S RETIREMENT

City Mayor Jose Antonio “Toto” Veloso, reacting to Lim's impending political retirement, said in his text message: “He needs to prove it because people are tired of listening to his promises.” “Siya ang nisaad therefore siya ang motuman,” Veloso said, referring to Lim's saying goodbye to politics. “Perhaps he has realized that his time for politics is over and he realized this when his wife lost in the recent special barangay elections,” Veloso added. City Councilor and lawyer Alexander “Aleckoy” Lim, however, dismissed the ex-mayor's planned retirement and branded it as a “pure political gimmick.” “Knowing Dan Lim, I know that he is as unpredictable as the weather brought by climate change,” councilor Lim said. “He can spring back at any time and stage a major political comeback while nobody is looking.”