Interesting question especially if you are in the shoes of ex-mayor Joe Torralba. There's no telling yet that the former city mayor is making a comeback in a one-on-one square off with his perennial nemesis, City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, now the current city hall tenant. But how is the political grapevine reacting with a Torralba-Lim return bout? Many factors has since surfaced since the political pot in this city started boiling. In the case of the former mayor, it seems he is still trying to figure out if he is running or not.

One reason why the ex-mayor appeared hedging on his comeback bid is his present pre-occupation as assistant secretary of the Department of Transportation & Communication. He may be a minor functionary in the DOTC hierarchy but “he becomes big fish in a small pond” when talks start percolating on the planned international airport in Panglao. Whether the ex-mayor likes it or not there is big money in the airport project if he knows how to play his role right in the giant undertaking. Let's stop kidding ourselves if one will not make money let alone if he is calling the shots of a project as huge as the Panglao airport. As a point man of Gov. Erico Amentado in the airport project, ex-mayor Joe is indeed salivating being part of the P3.5 billion undertaking.

That made him having second thoughts of leaving the airport project in favor of the mayoralty showdown. The Lakas factor is another Torralba headache. Right now, he can shout to the four corners of the city that he is the Lakas chieftain and therefore gives him the right bonafide to represent the party during the coming elections. This gives him the political wherewithal to think again that why not run if that is the case. After all, is not the Lakas ruling party packed with all the financial muscle to avert an opposition juggernaut from ruling city hall again? But that is granting Mayor Lim will just fold his hands akimbo and watch Joe Torralba wielding all his might his ultimate Lakas weapon. But what is Mayor Lim doing to thwart Joe's bid from using the Lakas firepower.

Although the current city hall tenant is keeping his cards close to his chest, vaulting his way to the Lakas corral is one of them. If this will happen, there's no denying that it will shatter whatever dream Torralba has to rule the Lakas roost. For one, Mayor Lim, being an incumbent, is always a prized catch of the ruling party. And he can have the party nomination in his own terms, if he likes to.

The Atienza factor (Manila Mayor Lito Atienza,) will also work wonders to Mayor Lim. As a good friend of the city mayor, the Manila city executive can be his own godfather in any Lakas marital rites. Given this best case scenario, ex-mayor Joe will be left holding the empty Lakas bag if Mayor Lim so decides to join the ruling party. As they say, politics is the art of the possible and there is no telling that this prognosis will not happen.