Last Friday, Padilla decided to quit after Equitable-PCI Bank executive Clarissa Ocampo testified that President Estrada kept P500 million in the bank under the name "Jose Velarde."
Padilla told The STAR yesterday that Lim was able to convince him to stay on until January as one of the interior department’s seven assistant secretaries.
On the other hand, reliable sources said Lim had a "heart-to-heart" talk with Padilla to ask him not to leave the department "at this time when your service is badly needed in the government."
However, Lim is set to leave the department when the campaign period for next year’s elections starts in February, the sources added.
The STAR gathered that Padilla talked to Lim on Saturday night about his plan to resign a day after Ocampo testified before the Senate impeachment tribunal.
President Estrada appointed Padilla to one of the interior department’s sensitive posts through the recommendation of Lim, who assumed office last January.
Undersecretary for Local Government Narciso Santiago Jr. also tried to stop Padilla from resigning, saying that public servants can serve the people better if they are in office. — Cecille Suerte Felipe