Lim’s camp hits back at Erap, Isko

MANILA, Philippines - The poll battle in Manila continues to heat up as the camp of Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday slammed his rival, former President Joseph Estrada, and his running mate Vice Mayor Isko Moreno for spreading lies that he ordered the arrest of Moreno and five councilors over a bingo game last February.

Manila’s barangay bureau director Analyn Buan pointed out that the memorandum signed by Lim bearing a marginal note with “instructions to arrest persons involved in bingo activities and consider the game illegal in the city” was clearly a general order and could be understood even by a school grader.

Buan said that Lim’s memo was dated Jan. 26 while another memorandum order was issued by the mayor’s chief of staff Ric de Guzman to then Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Alex Gutierrez on Feb. 1.

The bingo game sponsored by Moreno and his allies in Sta. Cruz district occurred on Feb. 16.

“Does this mean that Mayor Lim was able to predict that Moreno and his group would hold a bingo game almost a month later that is why he issued the memo?” Buan asked.

She also branded as pure lies Moreno’s pronouncement that Lim himself allowed the holding of a bingo game at the San Andres Complex last Feb. 14.    

Buan said that since Lim assumed office in 2007, all requests for holding bingo games by barangay chairmen were declined by her office since it is prohibited under Presidential Decree 1602 as amended by Republic Act 9287 or the illegal gambling law.

Estrada and Moreno on Tuesday called on Lim to resign after showing “proof” that the mayor had a hand in Moreno’s arrest.

They said Lim promised to step down if it is proven he ordered the arrest of Moreno and the five District 3 councilors.

FPJ group backing Lim

Meanwhile, the Fernando Poe Jr. for President Movement (FPJPM) yesterday threw its support to Lim and his running mate Lou Veloso.

FPJPM Manila chapter chairman Rolando Tomawis said Lim is a true-blue Manileño and a proven leader who would lead the city to progress.

The group’s move surprised some political analysts since the group supported Estrada in his presidential bid in the 2010 elections.

The organization was launched in 2004 when Poe ran for president against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.