Former Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim shrugged off multiple libel and election complaints filed against him by Bohol 2nd District Rep. Maria Vanessa “Van-van” Aumentado, dismissing the cases as political harassment ahead of the May 2025 elections.
Aumentado filed four counts of libel against Lim, his son Dan Ismael Lim, and aide Arlene Karaan before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on April 15, 2025. She is also seeking P60 million in damages.
The complaints stem from a March 26, 2025 radio broadcast on station DYTR, where Lim and Karaan allegedly made defamatory statements insinuating that Aumentado’s youngest child was fathered by another man, implying infidelity to her husband, Gov. Aris Aumentado.
Aumentado claimed the remarks caused her emotional distress, public ridicule, and dishonor.
She also filed a separate case before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), accusing Lim and Karaan of violating Comelec’s anti-discrimination policies by making gender-based attacks, considered an election offense under Resolution No. 1116.
In addition, Aumentado charged Dan Ismael Lim with three counts of online libel for allegedly posting malicious statements against her on social media.
Dan Ismael denied controlling the account in question.
Lim, who is running against Gov. Aumentado in the upcoming elections, said the timing of the cases was suspicious and politically motivated.
“Why only now during election time? This is clearly political harassment,” Lim said.
Karaan said she was ready to post bail and face the charges but echoed Lim’s view that the cases were politically timed.
The complaints bared the increasingly heated political rivalry between Lim and the Aumentados in Bohol’s gubernatorial race.