The entire Liberal Party bannered by Gov. Edgar Chatto and v-Gov. Concepcion Lim invaded enemy territory Thursday amidst the thunderous applause of residents. The occasion in Carmen was the proclamation of the ruling party’s mayoralty candidate Manuel “Boy” Molina, former municipal mayor. During the proclamation, Carmenanons stood united and solid for freedom from violence and corruption . Reelectionist Gov. Chatto and team mate Lim led the LP-Bohol slate in proclaiming the Carmen candidates who have drawn unprecedented support amidst the threats of guns, goons and gold of Mayor Conchita Delos Reyes. The constituents assailed their LGU’s blatant mismanagement by Delos Reyes whose many 2010 election promises have never been fulfilled. Just among her empty talks are the unrealized water in greater areas to include Poblacion, new colleges and high schools, vital hospital equipment, and P3,000 hospital/medical subsidy to each poor Carmenanon.

Everywhere, there has been fear to the terrorist and violent ways of their lady mayor, who has been charged with estafa, swindling and other crimes in various courts in the country. But people are fighting, overcoming this fear now. The penultimate LP rally gathered a huge crown infront of the municipal public market where, last year, the mayor and her armed task force and private army harassed a lowly and helpless vegetable vendor. Supporters, particularly those from barangays, amplified with the Molina lineup the call for ending the rule of violence and atmosphere of fear. They condemned the public declaration of Delos Reyes to hang all barangay leaders who would cross her path and not support her bid for governor. In addition to the present mayor, Carmen has two other “mayors”---Delos Reyes’ twin sister Angelita Toribio-Abundo and brother Jun Toribio, who is now seeking for mayor, according to the electors. Carmenanons sees a same- dog –of—different-- collar scenario if her brother succeeds the mayor, whose family-run construction business cornered the national-provincial-funded barangay road projects under the Kalahi-CIDSS program of the DSWD.

The mismanagement of Carmen in Delos Reyes’ time has been evident in the LGU’s failure to earn any Seal of Good Housekeeping from the DILG. This alone must already warrant a change for a competent leadership and an effective public service, people said. They said only the mayor and her family benefited from her administration as proven by Delos Reyes’ 2011 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). In her SALN, the mayor amassed P40.5 million net worth of mansion, landholdings, jewelries, furniture, fixtures and appliances as well as bank deposit, among others, all purchased or paid in cash in 2011, just a year after she assumed mayor. This contradicts her only declared source of income which is her salary as a mayor worth over P766,000 a year. She is potentially criminally liable for ill-gotten wealth, according to some government career officials. SEC and BIR records show she only earned a net of over P40,000 from her Beauche soap business a year before she became mayor, but Delos Reyes did not include it in her SALN as a source of income.

In the rally, Provincial Board Member Godofreda Tirol waved the official document showing the huge reduction of the Chocolate Hills Complex income amounting to tens of millions. This had never occurred in the past before Delos Reyes, her twin sister and close family circle took over, “privatized” and monopolized the business at the complex. By their shrewd act, the long-time marginalized livelihood occupants at the complex have suffered since their eviction from the place. Carmenanons thanked the support of Gov. Chatto and his full slate to the mayoral comeback bid of Molina because they need higher protection from violence and fraud. They condemned the series of unsolved killings, some of them believed to be part of the evil scheme of controlling the money-making illegal drug trafficking in Carmen and province-wide. They expressed support for Razilyn Tecson, the former personal assistant who exposed Delos Reyes’ involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs and fake money. Molina vowed to set in Carmen a new order of peace, hope, governance and growth that benefits the people above all. The LP municipal standard bearer also expressed his total respect for life---and for every Carmenanon regardless of faith and stature. Molina committed a Carmen town hall that connects to the provincial capitol, Malacañang and all other seats of good and working officialdom for the welfare of the Carmenanons.