BY DAVE SUAN ALBARADO
Former Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim has criticized his rival, Abante Bohol group, for allegedly spending nearly P900,000 pesos on a convention, calling it an extravagant waste of funds.
Lim, who is running for governor of Bohol, made the comments on his radio program, citing a source who claimed that the Abante Bohol group spent the large sum on a convention held at a resort hotel in Panglao.
A post by the Abante Bohol group showed that 2nd District Congresswoman Vanessa Aumentado cashed out P869,000 for food at the convention. Be Grand Resort issued the official receipt to Cong. Aumentado’s name.
The convention was held to introduce the Abante Bohol ticket, which includes candidates for provincial and local positions.
Lim questioned the source of the funds used for the convention and criticized the lavish spending, given that the Abante Group is facing minimal opposition.
Lim’s co-anchor, Arlene Karaan, echoed the sentiments of some observers who felt that the budget for the convention was excessive.
Lim asked why such a large amount was spent on the convention when there were cheaper alternatives available.
The former mayor has been vocal about his opposition regarding the sale of the Bohol Light Company Inc. and has accused the sitting governor of selling the distribution utility to Primelectric Holdings Inc. (PHI) without proper consideration for the province’s interests.
Lim has said that his primary goal in running for governor is to raise awareness about the issues affecting the province, rather than simply winning the election.
Meanwhile, the last-minute decision by former Tagbilaran City mayor Dan Neri Lim to run for governor has led to a surprise move by Abante Bohol to back the congressional bid of John Geesnell “Baba” Yap, according to Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado.
Lim’s candidacy has been seen as a challenge to the current administration, and he has been vocal about his sentiments regarding the sale of the SPC Power Corporation’s stake in Bohol Light Company Inc.
Abante Bohol, which had initially planned to declare the first district as a “free zone” and not back any congressional candidate, has now thrown its support behind Baba Yap.
However, the group has opted not to support Mayor Jane Yap, who is the incumbent mayor of Tagbilaran City and Baba Yap’s wife.
Instead, Abante Bohol is backing the bid of Councilor Malvin “Atoy” Torralba, who is the son of former Tagbilaran City mayor Jose Torralba and enjoys the support of Dan Lim and Cong. Edgar Chatto.
Aumentado said that the decision to back Baba Yap was made after Lim announced his candidacy for governor.
The governor had initially planned to remain neutral in the congressional race, but changed his mind after Lim’s entry into the gubernatorial contest.
The move has been seen as a strategic one, with Abante Bohol seeking to counter the influence of Lim and his allies in the province.
However, it has also raised questions about the unusual setup, where Baba Yap is being backed by Abante Bohol while his wife is not.
The development has added a new twist to the already complex politics of Bohol, with Lim’s candidacy and Abante Bohol’s backing of Baba Yap set to play a significant role in the upcoming 2025 elections.