Congressional aspirant Aleckoy Lim also enjoys the captive votes of the women sector. With him in photo are sister-in-law Jade Nuera, wife Elsie, daughter Atty. Allisa Ann and another sister-in-law Atty, Myrna Trabajo-Pagsuberon.

Political observers and local authorities are all eyes now in the third congressional district. Vying for the soon-to-be-vacated lone congressional seat are six determined candidates ready to slug it out by “all means.”

Initial signs of a hotly contested election are the threats, name-calling and black propaganda now being peddled around. Most of them zeroes-in on Aksiyon Demokratiko congressional bet lawyer Alexander Lim.

Report spread by still unknown sources is that Lim is withdrawing from the race. This was bluntly denied by Lim dismissing such lies as “coming from losing, insecure political opponents.”

“I have prepared for this for a long time and I have the backing of my family and supporters who equally believed I can deliver the needed change from traditional politics,” Lim said.

Another dirty tactic reaching the prominent lawyer threatens about purported expose’ that will destroy his name and that of his whole family.

“I do not want to pick a fight with other people but I will not run away from those who want to fight. In the coming days, I expect more instances of betrayal and back stabbing, I am ready for that. But I just want to make it clear that I know how to get even,” the front-runner in the third congressional contest said.

Candidates that filed for the third district congressional seat include former governor Rene Relampagos, Dionisio Balite and Adam Relson Jala, the son of the outgoing-three term congressman Eladio Jala.

Considered earlier as the man-to-beat in the congressional race, businessman Angelo Balili failed to live up to his hig-billing as the filing of candidacy ended midnight of March 29, Thursday.

Among the 19 municipalities in the district, the local Commission on Elections office earlier tagged the towns of Batuan, Buenavista, Carmen, Duis, Inabanga, Panglao, Sagbayan, Talibon and Tubigon as a possible “hotly contested” areas. This was based from a pre and post election assessments in the last May 2004 polls.

Running as board members for the four slots in the third district also include reelectionist Corazon Galbreath, Mario Balbin, Artemio Cabatos, Salva Diputado, Ben Molina, Aster Piollo, Petronilo Sarigumba, Edgar Allan Tac-an and Josil Trabajo.

Names from political lords of their respective towns still dominate the list of candidates in the mayoralty and vice mayoralty contest.

In Candijay town, it would be a return bout for come backing former mayor Monina Camacho against incumbent mayor Sergio Amora, Jr. The two are first degree cousins.

Long time mayor Paulino Amper of Anda is contested by an opponent that is reportedly supported by the church, civic and militant organizations of the town.

In Batuan, deposed mayor-elect Gregoria Pepito is back with a vengeance. She was unseated in 2005, three months after winning the May 2004 elections when she lost a disqualification case at the Comelec-Manila questioning her citizenship.

Dimiao has also former mayor Sylvia Adame coming back after three terms in office and another term of husband former fiscal Adame took her place on May 2004. Carmen town has the wife of three-term mayor Pedro Budiongan Jr. against a wealthy candidate.

The third district is also considered the territorial lair of rebel forces still showing their resilient presence in the towns of Carmen, Sagbayan, Batuan, Alicia and Pilar. Military reports say these dissident terrorists exact “campaign access fee” from candidates.

The Comelec, pursuant to the Omnibus Election Code, can deploy additional police forces in areas declared as “hot spots” to ensure free and honest elections.