OPPOSITION village chief and incumbent president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in Cagayan de Oro City has bolted the Padayon Pilipino and joined the administration of Mayor Oscar Moreno.
Re-elected Barangay 40 Chairman Yan Lam Lim on Monday, June 11, said he intends to seek another term as leader of the federation and hence, as ex-officio member of the City Council.
Moreno also announced that Lim is now the official candidate of the administration for the ABC presidency.
Lim said he has nothing against his former party mates nor he was forced to join the administration as it was his personal choice and decision.
"Ang akong pag-anhi is personal wala ko gipugos sa pagduyog sa administration tungod kay ako lang nga makatabang ko sa mga kapitan nga matagaan sa saktong ayuda kay dili igo ang akong personal capacity (It is my personal choice and I was not forced when I joined the administration. I would just like assist those captains that needed a helping hand since my personal capacity is not sufficient)," Lim said.
Lim was apprehensive that he may not be able to help other village chiefs if he will not join the administration once he gets another term.
"Let's be honest kung dili ta moduyog sa admin medyo mapihig gyud ta sa ayuda (if we don't support the administration, there will be biases when it comes to giving aid),"he added.
Lim has reached out first to city first district Representative Rolando Uy before the May 14 village and youth polls and initially discussed his intention.
Uy said he briefed Lim about the governance of Moreno and more talks were subsequently happened until a luncheon meeting with Moreno was arranged over the weekend where Lim manifested his commitment.
"Usa ko sa nagtabang nga maka-join siya sa (I was one of the people who helped him join the) administration. Niduol siya nako before nag-recess ang congress ug gipasabot nako siya sa admin ni Moreno. Ug tungod sa blood relation namo sa iyang asawa ug isip higala ako siyang gitabangan (he approached me before the congress' recess and I negotiated for his entry to the Moreno admin. And because of the blood relation I have with his wife, I helped him)," Uy said.
Uy said their family has also decided to pave the way for the re-election bid of Lim as Uy's wife. Re-elected Barangay Carmen chair Lorna, was previously eyed by Moreno for Liga's top post.
Padayon's vice president and city council's minority floor leader Leon Gan said Lim was among their five prospects to field in the ABC elections. Others were Gilda "Gigi" Go of barangay 21 and barangay 23 captain Conrad Lim and two more whom he declined to name.
Gan said while it is Lim's right to jump ship, there may have already been prior agreements between him and the administration.
"Iya kanang katungod unya basin naa sila daan panagsabot sa pikas kay kadali ba sad kaayo niya nakatabok (It is his right and perhaps they already had a discussion about this as his transition was immediate),"Gan said.
The opposition party's founder former mayor Vicente "Donkoy" Emano was also surprised with Lim's decision saying there has been no falling out between Lim and anyone in the party.
Emano said Lim went to him but did not talk about his plan to shift to the administration. He added that Lim's move may have an effect to the party but he declined to elaborate.
"In any situation like this naa gyud nay epekto sa amo pero wala na tay mahimo kung nibali siya mangita lang mig kinsa among mahimong kandidato (we will be affected but we can't do anything besides looking for another candidate)," Emano said.
However, Lim said he informed his party about his decision.
"Wala koy gikasiloan nananghid pud ko og tarong depende nana sa ila (I did nothing to anger them, I even properly told them. It depends on them)," Lim said.
