Revelations

Ben Contreras

WHAT is this “Capcom”? Who owns it? What’s the owner of Capcom’s relationship with Beda Joy Elot in the province? What were they to the provincial government under the then Gov. Oscar S. Moreno?

This guy came to me for a talk. But it was not just an ordinary talk. He came with revelations. His reason: “Wala ko gibayaran sa iyang (OSM) mga utang. Luoy akong mga anak. Akong misis lagot na pud kayo.”

He promised to bring some documents in our next meeting. But in a nutshell, his revelations focused on how government funds (DAP) allegedly found its way into the campaign chest and other related expenses of the then governor. “Ang maong panghitabo sa probinsiya mao usab ilang himuon sa siyudad,” he warned.

Frankly, I am not familiar with Capcom which sounds like Popcom. But he said that this contractor undertook some provincial projects like water system, base course (?) and medicines. “E-explain ra nako nimo, Sir, kung naa na ang documents”

“So, you know Elot very well?” I asked.

“Municipal administrator na siya adto una, Sir. Gipaeskwela ug nahimong abogada. Nakatrabaho sa Laguindingan airport ug gikuha ni kanhi Gov. Moreno. Tungod kay maayo kaayo siya mag-sourcing ug fund, bilib si governor sa iya ug nahimong sinaligan.”

Is it true that she has a new house worth P20 million or more?

“Mao na akong nadunggan. Apan asa man intawon siya makakuha ug ingon ana nga kantidad?”

“Do you have documents to prove that?”

“Naa koy kaila nga makatabang, Sir.”

He has other revelations but until he gives me the documents, I will hold the information.

It’s not just Elot that has been rumored to have a new P20-million house, not to mention what’s inside the house, and how much these cost. But like I said, it’s a “family matter” now that none would like to talk about.

“Sir, nganong dili nimo ipa-lifestyle check?” If I know how, I would have asked the concerned to do it on a few government officials and employees. Maybe, I should consult a lawyer on this.

“When are you going to give me the documents?”

“Ako sa ihan-ay ug tarong, Sir, aron walay sayop.”

“One week? Two weeks?”

“Tawag lang ko nimo, Sir, kung makigkita nako nimo.”

Elot is probably the most trusted person of Mayor Moreno, and treasurer Glenn Bañez probably comes second. According to many, Elot holds the bloodstream of Moreno. Anytime Elot wants to plug the flow, Moreno becomes inutile. But it could work both ways. If discovered, Moreno will have a ready scapegoat by pleading innocence as he is wont to do.

Look at what happened to Bañez. When William Guialani exposed the Ajinomoto incident, and filed a case against both officials, Moreno immediately claimed innocence. “Aguy, aguy, wala man ko masayud ana!”

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The problem with the Puerto public market can be better explained by members of the donor family. The fire that razed the market to the ground was rumored to be intentional to pave the way for the construction of a new one by a favored contractor.

But the donor of that piece of land dared the contractor to proceed at his own risk.

If Mayor Moreno intends to look for a new place for a market, the land should be reverted back to its rightful owner/s sans a repetition of the story of the five witnesses.