Lim pushes verbal attack vs Atienza

What was supposed to be a signing of a covenant for a peaceful election among Manila’s seven mayoralty bets yesterday turned ugly after former city mayor Alfredo Lim verbally attacked incumbent Mayor Lito Atienza.

For almost 30 minutes, Atienza was the subject of Lim’s stinging comments in the affair which was sponsored by the Western Police District at the Araullo High School along United Nations Avenue.

Fortunately, Atienza was not present at the school’s auditorium during Lim’s verbal barrage as he had earlier signed the covenant and left to attend another meeting.

In an interview before he left the school, Atienza called on his opponents to elevate the political campaign to an "educational program."

"We should elevate the level of the campaign. Our political campaign should be educational," he said.

Atienza also welcomed the proposal that the canvassing of votes be done outside Manila.

"The canvassing of votes has always been problematic. I will be happy if this will be done outside Manila. The responsibility is removed from us. We will follow the Comelec’s decision," he said.

Lim attacked Atienza on his alleged suspicious city projects such as the alleged overpriced street signages, the shelved "fisherman’s wharf" project at the back of the Rizal Park Grandstand, and the unaccounted P200 million funds donated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to city hall.

According to Lim, Atienza allegedly approved the purchase of the street signs at P30,000 each. He also accused Atienza of soliciting P400 million from then President Estrada for the unfinished wharf project.

Lim also dared newly-installed WPD commander Senior Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos to probe the activities of a certain Kim Wong, reportedly a big-time drug lord with ties to the Manila police.

According to Lim, some police officials are receiving as much as P600,000 weekly from Wong as "protection" for his illegal businesses.

Aside from Atienza and Lim, only candidates Onofre Abad and Antonio Gamo signed the covenant calling for an honest, orderly and peaceful elections (HOPE). Absent from the affair were candidates Amado Bagatsing, Imelda Apostol and Benjamin Rivera. – Mike Frialde