Lito, Lim swap raps

The raging swapping of charges between Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and his predecessor, and now bitter rival, Alfredo Lim has swept into the Manila police force.

Manila City Hall police detachment chief, Superintendent Napoleon Taas, volunteered yesterday to step down and be investigated by Manila police director Senior Superintendent Nicolas Pacinos following accusations by Lim that he was Atienza’s bagman.

"This is dirty politics we (police) should not be dragged into this," Taas told The STAR."

A peeved Lim gave the name of Taas at yesterday’s Manila Rotarians’ special session at the Manila Hotel to boost his charges of corruption against the incumbent mayor.

The Rotary meeting was the first time the three most prominent Manila mayoralty contenders, with former Rep. Amado Bagatsing as the third, faced each other after their heated television debate last month.

During yesterday’s forum, the three candidates dished out their most serious charges against each other, including Lim’s boldest revelation regarding Taas.

Atienza reacted to the charges by saying that Lim is "seriously bent on dirtying my name" and later made allusions to Lim by using the world "balimbing" or turncoat in reference to Lim’s last minute defection to the current administration when the success of People Power 2 became imminent.

Atienza also hit at Bagatsing by saying he is residing on government property. – Jose Aravilla