Mayor Oscar Moreno swears into office officials of the city’s Liga ng mga Barangay led by Councilor Yan Lam Lim on Saturday night. (photo by Joey Nacalaban)
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By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .

MAYOR Oscar Moreno over the weekend hinted of Councilor Yam Lam “Alam” Lim’s possible bid for the congressional seat in the city’s 2nd District, a pronouncement that suggested that the local chief executive is working to loosen the political grip of the family of former congressman Rufus Rodriguez on the district.

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“The last election in the ABC is so crucial. Kung ma-control unya iyang mahiusa ang mga kapitanes sa iyang distrito aduna siya’y chances nga mamahimong kongresista,” said Moreno during the oathtaking of Liga ng mga Barangay officials here on Saturday.

Rep. Rolando Uy of the city’s 1st District immediately expressed his approval of Moreno’s suggestion.

“Welcome kaayo. Nakita nato ang iyang (Lim’s) personahi nga nakaabag sa atong dakbayan. Dili kana problema, apan katawhan gihapon ang mag-desisyon,” said Uy.

He described Lim as the “shy type” of government official who has the characteristics of becoming a “good public servant and a political leader.”

“Makiulawon lang siya kaayo pero sa hinay-hinay maka-adjust ra gyud siya kaayo,” Uy said.

Lim, for his part, said Moreno’s suggestion was flattering but he added that he would focus more on his work as a new political ally of Moreno.

“Igo na kaayo nga gihatagan ako niya sa iyang trust and confidence during the ABC election. Layo pa man ang election, ato sa kining trabahoon,” Lim said.

Lim, whose reputation precedes him as far as many numbers game “Suertres” aficionados in the city are concerned, started as a political supporter of the then mayor Vicente Emano. After winning as barangay chairman, the Emano-led Padayon Pilipino supported his first successful bid to lead the Liga. He was an Emano political ally until after he won reelection in Barangay 40.

During the weekend Liga activity dubbed as “Pasalamat,” Moreno was all praises for Lim whom he said has the potentials of becoming a congressman.

“Teamwork,” he said, can do wonders.

“Kung naay teamwork sa national, local og sa barangay, sayon ug daghan kaayo atong mahimo. Wala pa baya magamit sa Cagayan de Oro ang teamwork. Mas maayo man kanang ang duha ka kongresista atong mga kaabag, dili babag,” said Moreno, apparently taking swipes at the Rodriguezes.

The Rodriguezes used to be Moreno’s political allies until the then congressman Rufus Rodriguez challenged Moreno’s reelection bid and fielded his younger brother Maximo Jr. for 2nd District congressman in 2016.

Rufus ranked a poor third in that mayoral race but his brother Maximo Jr. won in the congressional race.

What the Rodriguezes are in 2nd District are what Rep. Uy’s family is in the 1st District. Voteich Barangay Nazareth has remained as the political bailiwick of the Rodriguez family. The barangay’s chairmanship was passed on by the brothers’ sibling Jocelyn to Maximo Jr.’s namessake and son Maximo III.

The new Nazareth barangay chairman however lost when he ran for a seat in the Liga’s board of directors last week, indicating that the Rodriguezes’s influence over the influential organization of barangay chairpersons has been weakened.

Maximo Jr. is serving his third and final term as a congressman — he already served two consecutive office terms as a representative of the Abante Mindanao party-list. His elder brother Rufus has the option of running for congressman again.

Moreno said the number of barangay officials who attended the “Pasalamat” on Saturday was indicative of Lim’s ability to unite village officials for the development of the city.

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