Former Bohol gubernatorial candidate Atty. Dan Neri Lim on Thursday questioned the results of the May 12, 2025 elections in Tagbilaran City and the 1st District of Bohol, citing alleged discrepancies in the figures released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Lim raised the issue during a press conference held after his loss to incumbent Gov. Aris Aumentado. 

He said that discrepancies appeared in the changing data presented by Comelec and called the need to “come out in the open” and disseminate the information.

He specifically pointed out that City Mayor Jane Yap, City Vice Mayor Adam Jala and Congressman-elect John Geesnell Yap garnered almost the same number of votes—around 37,000—in Tagbilaran City.

Lim said it was plausible for Mayor Yap to receive 37,000 votes, given that she only ran against one opponent, outgoing Councilor Malvin Torralba. 

However, he expressed doubt that Congressman-elect Yap could have obtained a similar number, as he was up against three other candidates: incumbent Rep. Edgar Chatto, Jordan Pizarras and Marybelle de la Serna.

Similarly, Lim questioned how Vice Mayor-elect Jala could have matched Mayor Yap’s vote count despite facing two challengers—former Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso and Cogon Barangay Captain Geneson Balbin.

“Why did the three winning candidates have nearly identical vote totals?” Lim asked, suggesting this consistency raised questions about the integrity of the results.

Lim also questioned why Aumentado, who was not supported by Mayor Yap and instead backed by Torralba, received a surge in votes compared to candidates for lower-level positions. 

He pointed to the case of Vice Gov.-elect Nick Besas, a political rival of Balbin, noting that Besas received a vote increase while Balbin’s numbers reportedly dropped.

“It is improbable from my vantage point that Jala would win in Barangay Cogon, which is Balbin’s bailiwick,” Lim added.

He expressed sympathy for candidates who, according to him, had never previously encountered such questionable election outcomes.

In response, Comelec Provincial Supervisor Eliseo Labaria reminded the public that it is a crime to spread falsehoods suggesting vote rigging, especially if claims about anomalies in automated counting machines prove to be unfounded. 

Labaria said candidates who doubt the results are free to file an official election protest.