Lim to ask Asilo to give way to Ali for vice mayor

Former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim announced yesterday he would ask his running mate, First District Rep. Benjamin Asilo to withdraw his candidacy so he could officially partner with Councilor Arnold “Ali” Atienza, son of former mayor and Buhay Partylist representative Lito Atienza.

In turn, Lim will offer Asilo a position of his choice in any of the departments at City Hall.

“I will talk to Congressman Asilo today (Thursday) to be fair with him… Kakausapin ko siya na kung puede magbigay na siya. Pag nanalo tayo, gagawin ko siyang department head kung saan niya gusto. Mamili siya,” Lim said in a conference in Malate yesterday.

Atienza, who is running under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is the running mate of mayoral candidate 5th District Rep. Amado Bagatsing of the Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (Kabaka) party.

Lim met with the Atienzas last Sunday to discuss this development.

Change of heart Since a recent survey showed Asilo at the tail end of vice mayoral candidates, Lim said it is more practical for Asilo to drop his bid and give way to Atienza who is leading in the survey with 60 percent voter preference.

“Ang sabi sa akin ni (former) mayor Lito Atienza, ayaw na daw nila kay Bagatsing dahil sabi nila diumano, according to Lito Atienza, hindi naman daw kumakampanya eh. Sabi nila ‘bakit si Lim sinisiraan mo eh bakit itong incumbent di mo sinisiraan? Sagot daw eh ‘kaibigan ko yun eh.’ Kaya ang sabi ni mayor Atienza eh, ganun pala. Kaibigan mo pala yung incumbent. Eh kay Lim na kami,” Lim narrated.

Incumbent Mayor Joseph Estrada is running with former councilor and former Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) head Honey Lacuna, daughter of former vice mayor Danny Lacuna

Apart from Asilo and Atienza, Lim said 4th District Rep. Tricia Bonoan is also supporting his mayoral bid.

Unconfirmed Asked whether he is already sure of Atienza’s support, Lim said: “Eh siyempre, kung ano naman ang advice ng father niya, susunod naman siya.”

Manila Bulletin sought Atienza’s comment on the issue but was not returning phone calls and text messages.

During Bagatsing’s proclamation rally last March 30, Atienza denied reports he was abandoning Bagatsing for Lim.

“Kung ako po ay tutulungan ninyo sa pagka bise alkalde, tulungan niyo po ang ating kandidato para sa pagka alkalde walang iba kundi si Cong. Amado Bagatsing,” Atienza told his throng of supporters in the rally and promised to restore the free medical services in the six district hospitals in Manila if he gets elected.

In a separate interview, Bagatsing said his running mate has not mentioned about switching loyalties but he was informed that Atienza and Lim discussed matters concerning Buhay Party list. He said he remains unperturbed by Lim’s revelations and also laughed off allegations that he is not actively campaigning for the post.

“Wala akong nararamdaman dahil these are all unconfirmed reports,” Bagatsing said.

“Anong hindi ako nangangampanya eh I have four to five big meetings a night aside from caucuses. On Sundays we have motorcades. Gumagawa sila ng storya na malayo sa katotohanan… Lahat ng survey, ako ang nangunguna, paano ka mananalo sa survey kung hindi ka kumikilos? Paano malalaman ang programa mo?” he added.