Whether she was only joking or what not, or she is a just a big fan of Clint Eastwood who starred in the 1968 Western epic “Hang ‘Em High”. But Capitol took the threat at face value when she warned to use violence and “hang” or even “kill” non-supporters if necessary. Thus, threatened, Carmen Mayor Che Toribio de los Reyes in a tape-recorded speech that found its way in the office of the Capitol media bureau. During the same occasion, the combative mayor likewise threatened to counter any service delivery activity that the provincial government will spearhead again in her town and vowed to distribute money to prevent the people from going there. With Carmen employees as captive audience, the feisty mayor warned of “hell hath no fury like a candidate scorned” if barangay leaders of her own town will support the reelection of Gov. Edgar Chatto. “Naa puy mga kapitan diha nga molabang Chatto. Hala, pag-andam mu’g pisi kay ato na silang bitayon! Ako pay kunhon? Kabuang ana nila!” Delos Reyes flared up in front of her fellow municipal officials and the employees.

Considered as rude behavior to those who disliked her, the provincial standard bearer of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is gunning for governor against the incumbent Chatto who banners the ruling Liberal Party (LP). Delos Reyes threatened the barangay captains whom she perceived to be unsupportive of her gubernatorial bid to leave the town. “Palayason ko na sila aning Carmen!” Or “they will only have until October next year,” implied the mayor as she was obviously referring to the next barangay election if the term of the incumbent barangay officials is not extended. “Pero di na nato (sila) paaboton og last term. Bitay! Guwardiyahan ta na sila’g toda-toda. Kon mosukol, anha pa! Ako pa!” she continued. “Ang lider dili na mahadlok mopatay basta kinahanglan! Unsa man diay!”

DEATH THREAT, AGAIN?

After the supposed October 13 “ambush” on her convoy which turned out to be a hoax per police investigation, Delos Reyes this time claimed there is a plot to finish her off by “’poisoning.” Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim and Delos Reyes’ other candidacy handlers as well as their paid media trumpeters have been spreading tales involving alleged threats to her life. This is despite Delos Reyes’ weak candidacy for governor as indicated in independent surveys, her failure to field full town slates and absence of strong and credible leaders down the barangay level. “Giatay! Kalata aning akong paglansar pagkagobernador oi…Way lami!” she shouted out during the same Carmen LGU weekly Monday morning convocation program.

DISLIKE FOR SERVICE

Making no pretention of her rage, Delos Reyes lashed out at the conduct of a recent mini-HEAT caravan in her town initiated by the provincial government. The HEAT (Health and Sanitation, Education and Technology, Agriculture and Food, Tourism and Livelihood) caravan which brings essential services to constituent doorstep is one of Chatto administration’s well-admired innovations. “Pabalika’s Chatto dinhi (bisa’g) magda’g usa ka batalyon kay ilaray nako nang akong sakyanan! Ka buang! Atbangan nako na sila’g lamesa ug unya manghatag ko’g kuwarta!” she exploded. Delos Reyes has been practicing vicious money politics in her rounds on hope of mustering mass support which is otherwise blasphemous to her own supposed campaign for reform dubbed the Bag-ong Bol-anon. In one of her radio tirades, Delos Reyes bragged about her supposed bulging war chest so that “there is no more space to put my money in.” Analysts say her statement is one most insulting to the intelligence and maturity of the Boholano voters. Months ago, retired Gen. Alberto Olario asked the DILG and PNP to look into the numerous charges and several arrest warrants for alleged swindling, estafa, bouncing check and other crimes filed against Delos Reyes, her husband and her twin sister in different courts in the country.

NEW CHARGES

Just recently, car dealer and lawyer Liberato Casilan, Jr. sued Delos Reyes’ twin sister Angelita Toribio-Abundo, who is reportedly also the market administrator of Carmen, for estafa and bouncing check or violation of Batas Pambansa (BP) 22, otherwise known as the Anti-Bouncing Check Law. The complainant is the proprietor of Matt Car Dealer and Care Center based in Baclayon which deals and sells Foton brand motor vehicles in Bohol. With the assurance that she is a sister of the mayor and could guarantee additional sales volume if her car purchase thru installment is granted---and she being engaged in several businesses and that all her checks would be fully funded in due time---Casilan agreed to the payment term. But in his instant complaint filed with the Provincial Prosecution Office (PPO), Casilan accused Abundo of issuing bouncing checks as supposed payments for a brand new Foton van. The respondent issued 10 post-dated checks most of which, according to the complainant, were previously dishonored by the drawee bank for insufficiency of funds.

The 10 th and last check amounting to over P154,000 was dishonored, too, and Abundo did not deposit enough amount to her account despite written demand, thereby, resulting in the charges. In her counter-affidavit, Abundo claimed that her check was dishonored by the bank because she purposely withheld funds thereof until the alleged defects in the vehicle she brought would be fixed by the car dealer. In his joint resolution of the estafa and bouncing check charges, Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Adolfo Doroy dismissed the complaint for estafa as it was found out that the first nine checks were ultimately funded after most of them had previously bounced. On her claim to have withheld the fund for the 10th check because the dealer did not repair some alleged vehicle defects, the fiscal found it “uncorroborated and self-serving.” There is no showing on what specific day and time did Abundo bring the van to the Foton office for repair and the names of the supposed personnel who entertained her, the resolution said. It was therefore resolved, with the approval of Provincial Prosecutor Macario Delusa, to charge the mayor’s twin sister with violating the Anti-Bouncing Check Law before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court in Carmen. (Ven rebo Arigo)