Like a wounded lion, Cong. Roberto Cajes fought back to depend his name involving accusations of improprieties in the discharge of his function as second district congressman. At the same time, the lawmaker also unmasked the identity of his accuser who filed an anti-graft case before the office of the Ombudsman-Visayas. Cajes was reacting to the charges leveled against him by a certain Allan Manching that included among others corruption in the prosecution of public work projects in his district resulting in accumulation of unexplained wealth. The latest volley of verbal attacks coming from the camp of Cajes was the latest in a series of heated exchange of charges and countercharges arising from the congressional collision between Gov. Erico Aumentado and the congressman's wife Trinidad Mayor Judith del Rosario-Cajes. The solon was interviewed Monday over Station DYTR and dropped broad hints that his political nemesis was behind Manching's charges.

Although he showed no signs of anger as a result of the charges filed against him, a press statement released by his camp indicated that he was not amused to see the alleged complaint published in the newspapers when he himself has not yet received a copy of the alleged complaint as filed accordingly in the Ombudsman's office. As of press time, Cajes was yet to receive the alleged complaint filed by Manching, but his alleged complaint already found print in some newspapers based in Tagbilaran City, without even rightfully informing the reading public regarding the identity and character of Manching. The Cajes camp which has been a victim of black propaganda on newspapers and radio earlier, was also at the receiving end of a house-to-house smear campaign staged by a certain group which maliciously blemished the image of Mrs. Cajes. According to the Cajes press release, the issue brought back the grim fate of Rene Relampagos during his contest with Aumentado for the gubernatorial post where black propaganda became the order of the day. While the Cajes Camp was not surprised of the dirty tactics used by their opponents to attack them, they maintain that this campaign style was not setting a good example for the young.

Who is Allan Manching?

“Before one should even consider the accusations of Allan Manching, he/she should ask himself/herself this question: Who is Allan Manching? The Cajes camp said this was very important considering that there was a universally accepted saying or maxim that “for a statement to be credible, it must come from a credible mouth,”. What the news did not mention was the fact that Manching was the same Allan Manching who was issued a warrant of arrest by Presiding Judge Azucena C. Macalolot-Credo on January 15, 2010 for Criminal Case No. 2556-T for theft. The case is pending before the 5th Municipal Trial Court of Trinidad-San Miguel-Bien Unido.

He is out on bail.

The Cajes camp was dismayed of Manching's malicious and false allegations because the accuser was once upon a time a recipient of Cajes' kindness. The Cajes camp further said that it was important to emphasize how ungrateful Manching was to the kindness of the solon. It was worthy to mention also that sometime in 2008, the wife of Allan Manching could not be discharged from the Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital (GMPH), Talibon, Bohol because of his failure to settle his hospital bills and doctor's fee. Manching back then was in great despair over his wife's adversary. Manching should remember that of all people he approached for financial help, it was Cong. Cajes only who extended him financial assistance that caused the discharge of his wife from the hospital. It was common knowledge in Trinidad town that Manching is the motorcycle driver and bodyguard of one Florecer Gonzales alias Rese, who is running for vice-mayor against the vice mayoral candidate of the congressman who is running for Trinidad mayor.

Like Manching, Gonzales was convicted of several offenses before then Court of First Instance (CFI) now Regional Trial Court. Of the three cases ordered to be forwarded to CFI, two were frustrated homicide and one serious physical injury. There were speculations in Trinidad that Gonzales was behind the cases filed by Maching against Cajes. The heated Aumentado-Cajes congressional showdown may have something to do with the filing of the complaint. The same Cajes statement also mentioned about the Cajeses in a quandary if this move may have been Aumentado's plot against the couple.. However, the Cajes camp was not buying widespread speculations that Manching with the help of Rese Gonzales were used by Aumentado in filing fabricated and malicious charges against Cong. Cajes for his own political objectives. However, the Cajes camp affirmed that a great majority of the public do not believe these false, malicious and fabricated accusations.

Objectivity of the Media

At the same time, the Cajes camp was still clinging to a straw of hope that the media outfits in Bohol will practice responsibility and moral discretion especially that the campaign period was about to reach its peak. As of press time, the Cajes camp hinted that a number of persons who were victims of false assurances by Gov. Aumentado have started providing congressman Cajes with vital documents sufficient to indict Gov. Aumentado for graft and corruption. Congressman Cajes expressed his hope that newspapers and media outfits that printed and aired the false and malicious complaint of Allan Manching should also publish or air any complaint for graft and corruption against Gov. Aumentado, should one be filed in the near future.