THE IMMORAL AND SACRILEGIOUS PART 1
Bohol Times
Longcuts: Atty. Salvador Diputado
March 1, 2010 issued
Still remember that very colorful interview cum discussion with Congressman Roberto "Ondoy" Cajes over Cuentas Claras following that very embarrassing privilege speech in Congress?
Well, he challenged Longcuts to write or file his complaint before the Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives. The latter suggestion of course is useless because the House is his territory and I'm a complete alien in that turf.
So I am accepting his challenge to write. This is the story.
Now I know why Rev. Fr. Roberto "Ondoy" Cajes, now outgoing congressman of the 2nd district of Bohol can afford to taunt me and make a punching bag out of me in the Halls of congress.
And the reason is simple. He is very rich. And when I say rich. I mean, not just rich but very rich.
Yes, after serving as congressman for 3 terms, he was able to amass a lot of wealth.
Don't ask me how or how come. don't ask me if the acquisition was legal or not. And don't ask me how I got the info. Suffice it to say that I have the documents that would support my story.
Of course, it's not bad to be rich. Especially if it's the fruits of one's labor. The likes of Henry Sy, Lucio Tan or even Bill Gates easily come to mind. they are typical rags to riches story.
Our 3 models share one common denominator- not one is a politician.
But in the case of our Rev. Fr. Roberto "Ondoy" Cajes, he started his rise to "greatness" only when he became a politician.
When he was yet a priest, he was a scholar. Meaning, he lived and studied at the mercy of his benefactors. I heard that the parokya spent for his law studies. Who, in his right mind, would deny a priest the chance to become a lawyer?
So when our priest relayed his intention to study, he got an overwhelming support. Not only from the parokya but also from well-meaning friends as well.
In other words, the provenance of how he became a lawyer could be traced back to the parokya.
Actually, many people doubt if they came from his parents. Or from him, personally.
So you see, Back then, he's not really rich, in the real sense of the word.
His life as a priest, insofar as my memory bank is concerned, was very colorful.
He was once assigned as parish priest at the K of C Lourdes Church along Gallares Street in the city. That time, the church was basically a one- story wooden structure. It was just simple church building.
Not a majestic landmark as it now where it is comparable to the Sydney Opera House. At least in form. There were only few parishioners then so everybody knew everybody.
Many times, I saw him walking along the street in the early morning. With his white shorts and T-shirts, it was easy to believe that he woke up early for his early morning walk.
What better way to shave off that extra appendage on the tummy than to burn calories by a early morning walk.
Right Jose?
It was discovered later that outside of the convent, he had a love nest. and he shared this nest with a woman who was employed then at the Telecom.
The woman was married and had a son by her husband.
She was known then as Judith Lao, married to Alexis Lao. The only significant fact that I could remember from Judith Lao that time was that as long distance operator, you had a reckon with her "kindness" so she would hasten your long distance connection. No cellphone then.
No way to skirt then the long distance firm owned / managed by the boiser Family.
they must have been sleeping and together they were productive because out of that love nest came several children, all females.
At the time Judith Lao bore children with Rev. Fr. Roberto "Ondoy" Cajes, she was still legally married to Alexis Lao.
Take note of the word "still".
Initially, the existence of the children was bearable. Nobody in the parokya had the balls to confront the priest about the immoral and sacrilegious relationship right smack in the parokya.
The parokyanos were simply mum. Not because they tolerated the immoral and illegal acts but because he was basically decent.
When he delivered his homily, he focused on the gospel, no ad libs, no self-glorification. It was plain gospel discussion.
And he was quick with his Holy Mass, just 30 to 45 minutes or so. So it was bearable. Yes, he was still bearable then.
But when the children grew up, and started acting like ordinary children, it was no longer comfortable.
Imagine during a solemn prosesyon and the priest is wearing the sotana and suddenly a young girl innocently addresses the priest with "Kuyog ko Daddy Ondoy"?
Or during friendly basketball games between priests and seminarians and here comes a shrilling cheer "Shoot Daddy!" from a cherubic girl called Bobbith.
It also terribly disturbed many religious parishioners in the parokya to religiously see their parish priest sleeping and spending the nights inthe love nest of Judith Lao, a married woman with children.
And more so that their brood of female kids grew by and large.
Between themselves, they must have been tremendously in love with each other. It was no longer lust but love. It was no longer passion but compassion. but the problem was complicated.
Not only because Rev. Fr. roberto "Ondoy" Cajes is a man of God whose sexual congress with Judith Cajes was (and still is) considered taboo, but also because Judith Lao is a married woman whose husband Alexis is still alive.
And the added problem too because their lovely kids have to go to school and enroll themselves.
How would they identify their father, and mother? How would they answer if their friends asked them how come their father is a priest or how come their mother has a husband other than their father?
Very problematic indeed!
That time, they transferred their love nest somewhere. Still in the city through but at least far from the prying eyes of the deeply disturbed parokyanos.
Because of the bulk of their belongings, he needed a cargo truck to transport them from the old love nest to the new love nest.
Guess where he borrowed the cargo truck?
I'll answer the question myself, of course.
He borrowed the cargo truck of Atty. Dioning Balite.
For free. Yes, he got the cargo truck, the driver and the diesel fuel without spending a single centavo.
see, Rev. Fr. roberto "Ondoy" Cajes has friends who are willing to lend a helping hand. He asked, and he got them. No problem.
But is Rev. Fr. roberto "Ondoy" Cajes willing to lend a helping hand to his "friend" Atty. Dioning Balite?
We'll have that in another episode.
Back to the problem of Rev. fr. roberto Cajes and Judith Lao.
They were in a dilemma over the marital problems of Judith Lao, the priestly restrictions of cajes (never mind the vow, he has not heard or practiced it), and the parenthood concerns of their kids.
Because Rev. Fr. Roberto "Ondoy" Cajes is not only a man of god but also a brilliant officer of the courts of justice, he easily found the answer.
One solution to all the problems. and he got it. See, he's really brilliant.
And the solution?
Well, Judith Lao simply had her husband killed.
With her husband Alexis Lao killed, naturally, she could marry. She would become a widow.
But don't get me wrong. I am not referring to the physical act. I am referring to the legal act. Remember, her lover then was already a lawyer.
So what did they do?
We will have that in our next episode.
Abangan.
***
Conching Lim is standing to feel the big problem in her campaign.
No question that she has the money. the money of all her oponents in the vice gubernatorial race combined would not even make a dent on her tremendous wealth.
As they say, "di makabungkag ug hinapay".
Actually, her wealth is beyond measure. For as long as Philhealth is there, she can live (and die) like a queen.
For as long as her family controls Valencia town, her problem with money is virtually non-existent.
But for her campaign to be effective, she needs a machinery. A political machinery that she can use to channel her resources to their intended "victims"- the voters.
From what I know of her, she is not the type to delegate the distribution of election money to other people. She does it herself. Of course, with the help of a few trusted nephews and nieces.
But how can you expect to do that in all the 47 towns of Bohol and 1 city?
She has other problems of course right in Valencia.
Her niece the incumbent mayor is facing a former general of the Philippines Air Force in Gen. Leo Olegario. The general is running under Nacionalista Party.
From my reckoning, Gen Olegario is the most serious contender so far. And he is backed up by his long service in the mlitary. Probably, he knows about the art of waging war, literally and figuratively, that is.
So the local front cannot just be ignored. Conching has to baby- sit her niece so she can also overcome the combined forces of the opposition in Valencia.
See, that's one of Conching Lim's biggest problems.
Left on her own, Conching Lim is not really formidable.
She is now forced to rely on the machinery of cong. Edgar Chatto, Rene Relampagos and Rev. Fr. Ondoy Cajes.
If this were block- voting as in the Martial Law years, Conching Lim is safe. But right now, it's completely different. there is no more color -coded sample ballot just like the old days.
Of course, she could probably fashion the means to ensure that her name is carried on the party ticket andbe voted by the supporters of the party.
But there are serious things to consider.
***
In the 1st district, she has to rely on the machinery of rene Relampagos.
If Rene Relampagos were not facing serious contenders, then she is safe.
But Rene has Oscar Glovasa and Mayor Dan Lim to consider. She also has to consider the influence of Gov. Erico B. aumentado in the district.
After bad-mouthing the governor, she could no longer expect the same premium treatment as in yesteryears.
We will discuss some more about this in our next episode.
***
In the 2nd district, she could no longer count on her Kumpare Erico because she opted to jump to the camp of Ondoy Cajes whose "wife" is running against her kumpare.
This must be calculated on her part because she thought the Cajeses are more powerful than her kumpare Erico.
Well, she should better brace for a "bloody" war.
Well shall have more when return, stay tune for more.
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