LP bet accuses Lim of harassment
BANGUS FESTIVAL POLITICS
A CANDIDATE for councilor of the Liberal Party (LP) in Dagupan has complained that he was harassed by Mayor Benjamin Lim, who is running for re-election under the opposing Nationalist People’s Coalition, in the afternoon of April 29 during one of the events of the Bangus Festival.
Pocholo “Solo” de Venecia, nephew of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., said the incident took place while he was watching the street dancing competition called “Gilon-Gilon” along Perez Boulevard with a few supporters and relatives.
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CITY HALL CLARIFIES
In a statement sent to local media, accompanied by a picture showing Lim and De Venecia shaking hands like “old friends”, the city information office denied that there was an altercation between the two and offered the picture as proof.
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The incident was recorded in the police blotter.
“My companions and I were standing in front of my friend’s restaurant when we saw the mayor and companions parading. All of a sudden, the mayor approached me, shook my hand then told me off for wearing my campaign shirt and bringing supporters with me,” De Venecia said.
De Venecia said he was shocked at Lim’s brusque and confrontational behavior manner which he had not expected in a public gathering such as the Bangus Festival.
CAMPAIGNING
De Venecia said the mayor suddenly harangued him in front of the large crowd, telling him off that the event “is not a venue for campaigning.”
De Venecia said his reply to the mayor, “What about you?”, apparently incensed Lim who De Vencia said was accompanied by some 100 of their supporters wearing their campaign uniforms.
The altercation nearly led to fisticuffs when cooler heads intervened.
De Venecia later told newsmen in a press conference: “If the mayor can do this to me, how much more to a poor Dagupeño?”
“I can not understand this mercurial temper of our mayor which is a possible indication he is now in a panic mode. Is it because surveys show he is now trailing by a wide margin?” De Venecia said.
De Venecia maintained that it was Lim, his son Brian, and their candidates who turned the Bangus Festival into a venue for their own campaign.
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