Hala padayon Bol-anon. Ijagjag tanan.
THE IMMORAL AND SACRILEGIOUS PART 4
BOHOL TIMES
Longcuts by: Atty. Salvador Diputado, Ph.D.
April 18, 2010 issued
In our last episode, we were talking about the "resurrection" of Alexis Lao, the supposed "dead" husband of Judith Lao aka Cajes in 2003.
He did not only rise from the "dead", he also executed an Affidavit of Reappearance and other documents.
The plain and simple truth - the attempt to "kill" her husband Alexis Lao did not work as expected by Judith Lao-Cajes because he reappeared.
***
We know that under the law and established jurisprudence , the reappearance of the absent spouse automatically terminates the marriage of the petitioning spouse.
In the case of Judith Lao-Cajes, she knew right at the same time she filed her petition to "kill" Alexis Lao that the reappearance of Alexis would automatically terminate her marriage to her lover-priest (Cong. Roberto Cajes).
But just to make things clearer ,let us consult the authorities.
What happen to the marriage of Judith Lao to Rev.Fr. Roberto "Ondoy" Cajes now that the absent spouse Alexis Lao reappeared?
The law says that the subsequent marriage shall be automatically terminated by the recording of the affidavit of reappearance of the absent spouse, unless there is a judgment annulling the previous marriage or declaring it "void ab initio."
What is needed to done in case there is no judgment annulling or declaring the marriage as void ab initio?
Again, the law says that a sworn statement of the fact and circumstances of reappearance shall be recorded in the civil registry of the residence of the parties to the subsequent marriage at the instance of any interested person, with due notice to the spouses of the subsequent marriage and without prejudice to the fact of reappearance being judicially determined in case such fact is disputed.
So, the question did Rev. Fr. Roberto "Ondoy" Cajes and Judith Lao know that Alexis Lao has reappeared so they could not invoke good faith or lack of information about the reappearance?
Of course they knew.
They were charged with Bigamy by then Buenavista Mayor Leondro Tirol before the City Prosecution Office of Lapu Lapu City. Among the documents presented in that case was the Affidavit of Reappearance of Alexis Lao.
How did Mayor Tirol describe the immoral situation?
"Here was a priest living under the scandalous circumstances with a married woman. And so, there was a growing public disprobation. they were increasingly being censured. In fact, the catholic school of the Holy Spirit College of Tagbilaran (sic), where the children of Cajes and Judith were enrolled, was no longer keen on allowing these children to continue studying there. Thus, pressured by time and circumstances, Judith and Atty.Cajes were now constrained to resort to remedial measures. Upon the legal advise (sic) and guidance of, or with the knowledge and consent of atty. Cajes, the Petition to declare Judith's DEAD was filed in 1991 in order that they could later marry, which they actually did in 1993."
***
And how did Mayor Leondro Tirol describe the case of Bigamy?
"It is a fact that Atty. Roberto Cajes and Judith Del Rosario were already living an ADULTEROUS life before the Petition was filed, because ,as we have pointed out, Cajes and Judith had children born before 1991, the date the Petition was filed. And ,after the Petition was filed, and when both got married, another crime was also committed, which the crime of BIGAMY because this marriage was willfully contracted knowing of the existence of the husband to whom Judith was legally married, which marriage were subsisting and valid. It must be emphasized that the marriage of Alexis Lao to Judith was not ANNULLED or Voided, and so, it was, then as it is now, a valid and subsisting marriage."
How did the brilliant lawyer-priest reply to the charges of Mayor Landring Tirol?
They claimed that "the declaration of presumptive death of Alexis Lao as a result of the mentioned Order had, for all legal intents and purposes , severed the marital union of second respondent with her first husband, Alexis Lao, thus paving the way for the consummation and legality of the subsequent marriage."
Their theory is that when Judge Andres Santos granted the petition seeking to declare Alexis Lao as presumptively dead, the marriage of Alexis Lao to Judith Lao was also severed or cut.
Very funny, of course.
The lawyer-priest must have forgotten that in her petition, Judith Lao said "this Petition and petitioner's subsequent marriage shall be without prejudice to the effect of the reappearance of her absent spouse."
In other words, she agreed that should Alexis Lao reappears, and she is already married to her lover-priest, then her marriage to her lover-priest would be automatically terminated.
The validity of her marriage to her lover-priest therefore, was conditional.
***
Anyway Rev.Fr. Roberto Cajes succeeded in getting an Affidavit from Alexis Lao dated December 8, 2003.
In his Affidavit, Alexis Lao said that he "did noknow Mayor Landring Tirol will use my affidavit to ile a case for bigamy against Judith Del Rosario-Lao and Congressman Roberto Cajes of the 2nd district of Bohol."
But I noticed one thing.
The signature of Alexis Lao in his affidavit dated December 8,2003 is different from his signature in his Affidavit of Reappearance and in another affidavit.
But in his Affidavit of Reappearance and the other affidavit, his name is not spelled out, the way men usually affix their signatures.
See, miracles do happen, right Padre?
***
Anyway during the hearing of the Bigamy case, the supposedly "dead" Alexis Lao was summoned.
And accompanied by his son Michael James Lao, the "dead" Alexis Lao appeared and confirmed the contents of his December 8,2003 Affidavit.
See, there is now open, clear and public proof that Alexis Lao is alive and kicking and he is not dead, as what Judith Lao had petitioned the RTC of Bohol.
***
So let's go back to the question.
Knowing that her husband Alexis Lao is very much alive (pardon the superlatives), and therefore, her marriage to Rev. Fr. Roberto Cajes is automatically severed, why did Judith Lao continue that charade as Mrs. Judith Del Rosario-Cajes?
Why the continued use of the married surname "Cajes" when it should be back to her other married surname "Lao"?
When she filed her COC and the CONA attached on December 1 last year, why did she still use the surname "Cajes"?
She misrepresented herself, right, Jose?
*****
Meanwhile, there was an attempt last week to remove Police Provincial Director Anthony Obenza from Bohol.
Apparently, a big politician in the 2nd district (Cajes) is not happy with his continued presence.
He could not utilize his Kuratong Baliling goons in the coming elections because he is constantly monitored. So what he did, he contacted his friend in the DILG and an order was made to issue a relief order for Col. Obenza.
The relief order did not specify the mortal sin committed by Obenza that would merit his relief. Instead, the date of relief was clearly specified- April 15.
No wonder, early in the morning of april 15, I saw the black SUV of the big politician in the 2nd district in a rush to the city to possibly oversee the transfer of command from Col. Obenza to a certain PSSupt. Rodolfo Llorca.
He,he,he. He must have been told by his DILG friend that the relief of Col. Obenza was a done deal.
Luoy pud.
***
So what happened?
The relief did not push through.
The RTC of Bohol issued a temporary restraining order enjoining the relief of Col. Obenza on the ground that it violated the election ban.
Gov. Erico Aumentado filed an injunction in the morning of April 14 and cited various grounds for the issuance of an injunctive relief.
***
The continued presence of Col. Obenza in the province is a guaranty that these Kuratong baliling goons would remain in hiding.
He knows the terrain. He knows the personally involved. He knows the background of the local politicians. Because he is a Boholano, first and foremost.
His replacement is a Bicolano, first time in Bohol. His being a stranger in the province is a very serious handicap in promoting clean, honest and orderly elections.
***
The heat is on.
And the behind of Conching Lim is very, very warm.
Why?
Because she is now under intense pressure. She is supposed to muster the most number of votes in the 3rd district. But alas, that may not happen.
Why?
Because she is facing a very formidable enemy.
Former Congressman Boy Jala is reportedly back in political harness, this time as the kingmaker of his elder brother Pedio Jala who is running against conching Lim.
His being a SEC Commissioner does not stop him from calling his loyal supporters in the district and align them on the side of his brother.
Boy Jala does not have to do it physically, he can do it with his cellphone, remember.
Big headache for Conching Lim, right?
***
To my reckoning, Boy Jala is not really chummy with Conching Lim.
Remember when his son Adam ran for the 3rd district. He was facing Rene Relampagos, among others.
Early in the game, he was the flavor of the month in Valencia. He was constantly in the company of the big people in Valencia. In rallies, in meetings, he was pushed as the chosen candidate of the "big people".
To secure the votes in Valencia, he shelled out a substantial amount because his constant companion was the "big women" who literally dictates what happens in Valencia.
To Boy Jala's surprise and consternation, came canvassing time, Rene Relampagos edged him out by a wide margin.
It turned out that Rene was the favorite of the "big people" and Boy Jala was simply duped.
***
Now that Pedio Jala is running against Conching Lim for the vice gubernatorial race, is it any wonder that Boy Jala would rally behind his elder brother?
This is the time to get even.
His 9 years as Congressman of the 3rd district must have a secured for him a sizable followers and loyalist in the district. He could easily revive his links with them and feed his elder brother Pedio Jala for the vice gubernatorial race.
Never mind the other candidates, basta the position of his brother is secured.
How does that sound, Inday Conching?
Not only that, she is also making a lot of enemies in the 3rd district.
A mayor in an interior town confided to me last tuesday that Conching Lim told him she did not trust him because he is chummy with Tommy Abapo.
Instead of befriending the mayor, Conching Lim gave him a regular dose of her patented taray.
As in he owed her big time so he should bend on his knees every time she is around.
Her condescending tone, her acidic tongue and her patented taray are enough ingredients to make her unpopular.
We shall have more of this in our next episode, stay tuned!
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