longcuts

Who would have thought that Longcuts would get his one-minute of infamy and humiliation when Cong. Ondoy Cajes brought his war to the Halls of Congress Wednesday last week and delivered a scathing privilege speech?
Up to now, Longcuts is still shopping for viable explanation why he’s been included in Cong. Ondoy’s hate list.
* * *
Friends have volunteered some.
One, he’s disappointed that while he has his top caliber lawyers from Manila to defend his case before the Law Department of Comelec Manila, Governor Erico Aumentado has opted to retain a Bohol-based ukay-ukay lawyer.
Two, he’s pissed with the way Longcuts laughed during the Cuentas Claras radio program.
Three, he’s not happy with the story coming out from this paper about his unfortunate accident in Loboc last December 30.
Four, he’s looking for more enemies.
And many more.
* * *
Why bore his colleagues with his sad personal story in far-away Bohol?
Why waste the precious time of the House with the story of his political battle with Gov. Erico?
What did he hope to accomplish from his very irresponsible privilege speech? If the issues taken at his privilege speech were referred to the appropriate committee, did Cong. Ondoy expect positive solution?
Does he have nothing else to do that he opted to make a fool of himself in the House?
* * *
It was utterly pathetic for Cong. Ondoy to hit his “enemies” below the belt.
He could not utter those words here, over the radio stations because his targets would get even. He could also get sued for Defamation. Though I think this is the least of his concern. He has a battery of lawyers at his beck and call.
* * *
When Ondoy asked Longcuts “unsa man ka sa una?” it was really shocking.
I could not imagine him stooping this low. But he did. And by doing so, he’s digging his own grave.
He has unwittingly exposed his other persona.
By asking that stupid question, he must have forgotten that the same question could also be asked of him.
Unsa man pod diay ka sa una Cong. Ondoy?
* * *
And here’s my recollection of Cong. Ondoy Cajes.
I remember him when he was still the parish priest of K of C Lourdes Church.
I would see him early morning walking along Gallares Street wearing white shorts.
Everybody in the neighborhood knew then that he wad sut perfornace Lao Cajes and her children were staying. The boarding house is just around the corner, very near the church.
Can you imagine a parish priest openly spending the night in the bosom of his girlfriend?
* * *
I also remember him playing basketball. He was fond of wearing a number 7 jersey.
Proof that he loves the living legend, Robert Jaworski.
Also proof that like Jaworski, he likes to play rough.
Ask anybody who played basketball with Fr. Ondoy Cajes then and for sure, the description fits a Jawo-like play.
And while he’s playing basketball, there were kids at the sideline.
And one such kid would cheerfully shout, “Shoot Daddy, shoot Daddy!”
Yes, a priest being called Daddy in public.
And you know who was that kid?
You got it, it’s Bobbit Cajes.
* * *
And where did he get the wherewithal to study Law? He was a priest that time.
Some said he borrowed money from friends. Another priest is reportedly one of them.
Some said it was a grant from the church.
And many other theories.
Me, I don’t want to hazard a guess.
* * *
I also remember talking to a sister of Cong. Ondoy.
She’s got summoned by a banking institution because she missed her monthly obligations.
When I met the sister in court, I asked why she did not get a lawyer?
She was mum even with the knowledge that her brother was practicing law at that time, even while serving the province as a board member.
When I asked her why not ask help from her brother, board member Ondoy Cajes, her reply was simple enough.
“Maayo pa ug adto ko sa lain magpatabang kay sa adto ko niya.”
If his sister shares this “fondness” for Cong. Ondoy, one does not have to think very hard what kind of brother he really is.
These are some of the things that I would remember if asked the question “kinsa man diay si Cong. Ondoy Cajes sa una?”
* * *
Of course, there are other things that I know about Cong. Ondoy personally.
Things like what he did when he was still constructing his house in the city. Things like what he did when he was in need of instant cash.
And of course, I know of some things about his wife Judith Lao Cajes because she used to work at the Telecom office.
And I also know a little about his legal problem with former mayor Landring Tirol.
That case was very tumultuous for Cong. Ondoy and his wife Judith Lao Cajes.
We shall discuss little by little this episode in the life of my good friend and kumpare, Cong. Ondoy Cajes.
* * *
The point is, I have some personal knowledge about Cong. Ondoy Cajes, his wife and his kids that I can share in this corner.
Question – does he have similar personal knowledge about me that he could, with certainty and confidence, share openly in public?
I doubt it.
Though he could try.
* * *
One good thing about that speech is, according to a good friend in the media, I made one giant step while Cajes made 3 steps backward.
* * *
Some friends who heard our lively exchange last Tuesday over Cuentas Claras congratulated me for keeping my cool.
“Believe mi nimo bay, kalma ra man ka kaayo, smile smile man lang. Pero si Congressman Cajes, pwerte inita na man kaayo,” this came from some friends.
Another one said, “bastos pod na si Congressman Cajes, no? Siya hinuon ang namaot adto.”
And another one said “kon nanghantok ka, at least dalaga man unya asawa pod nimo. Kanang uban diha nga nangilog ug asawa unya ipa-deklarar pa gyod ang buhi nga bana nga patay, mao nay grabe.”
The point is, with the despicable act of Cong. Ondoy in his privilege speech, let me make it clear that I am not mad.
But I get even.
* * *
Conching Lim is having a hard time selling herself to the barangay officials.
She is not friendly. She is not approachable.
And even those who ventured to try their luck by approaching her directly have experienced a
shock of the lifetime.
“Kusog mangasaba na siya. Mora mi’g pirmi lang sayop ug siya pirming husto. Ang nakapait kay mao na’s ginhawa namong pangita’g ika-plete para kaadto mi Tagbilaran, pag-abot namo sa iyang opisina, kasab-an man lang mi,” a barangay captain from Jagna exclaimed.
“Unya karon, sayon sayonon lang mi ug ngisi-ngisi. Dad-on kunohay mi sa Manila ug sa Subic aron kunohay mi mo-believe niya. Unsa man mi, uto-uto?” continued the irate female barangay captain.
* * *
It’s not an easy game for Conching Lim.
She may be representing the barangay captains but she is terribly unpopular with them.
She is in the 3rd district of Bohol, the biggest in terms of area and voting population, but she could not really claim that the district is sure to support her. After all, records of past elections would show that despite her tremendous resources, she was not the top vote-getter in the district.
She could not beat Dioning Balite for several elections now to the number 1 slot in the district board seat. She could not even beat Freda Tirol because Freda remained at the 2nd slot.
The best that Conching Lim could do was get the 3rd slot.
Now, if that is the best that Conching Lim could muster in her own district, then it follows that she can also expect extreme difficulty in the other districts?
For instance, in the 1st district, she has to rely completely on the machinery of Cong. Edgar Chatto.
If Chatto were facing an easy battle, then Conching Lim could easily piggyback on Edgar Chatto. But the coming election is definitely no walk in the park for Cong. Chatto. The betrayal issue is haunting the good congressman. And with the entry of Rene Relampagos, the issue about SALCON is also revived.
Remember, Rene Relampagos met his downfall with the SALCON issue. That time, Rene was the governor, Edgar was the vice governor.
This early, former OIC governor Victor dela Serna is marshalling his resources and fortifying his fort for a revival of the SALCON issue.
To my recollection, there is no other mouthpiece who is more persuasive than Victor dela Serna.
If Victor dela Serna starts spewing acid with the SALCON issue, there will be hell to pay. Many voters would remember and Edgar and Rene would be in a lot of trouble.
In the 2nd district, Conching Lim has to rely on the machinery of Cong. Ondoy Cajes.
Again, if congressional bet Judith Cajes, the married wife of Cong. Cajes, is facing an easy battle, babysitting Conching Lim will not be a problem.
But she is facing a political giant in Gov. Erico Aumentado. From my reckoning, she could only consider Trinidad and Buenavista as her stronger turf. In other towns like Ubay and Inabanga, Cajes would trail by a wide margin.
Which means Conching Lim will be left to fend for herself.
She could not also count on her kumpare Erico because she opted to ally herself with Edgar and Ondoy who are considered up to now as the main actors in the movie, The Betrayal.
Dark days ahead indeed for Conching Lim.
We shall have more of this when we return, stay tuned for more!

If elections were held today, vice governatorial contender Conching Lim would easily lose to Tommy Abapo.
The on-line survey conducted by DYRD shows the big lead enjoyed by Abapo over Conching.
Abapo got 62% while Conching only got 21%. Elpedio Jala got 17%.
This is definitely bad news for Conching.
She could even be overtaken by Jala in the 2nd spot. Her lead over Jala is a measly 4%.
* * *
Naturally, Conching should not expect to get a good showing in the survey.
The survey is based on popularity. Abapo is popular, Conching is not.
* * *
Not only that, since the time he started in government service, Abapo’s name has not been linked to graft and corruption.
Yes, he is clean.
But Conching is different.
Ever since, Conching’s name has always been linked to the controversial Medicare scandal.
For how could she explain the more than 1 million pesos in monthly Medicare claims for her LOL Memorial Hospital in Valencia?
Remember that there are 2 hospitals in Valencia. And there is no epidemic ever recorded in Valencia. And yet, Conching’s LOL Hospital submitted voluminous monthly Medicare claims amounting to more than a million pesos.
Where did she get that much number of patients to justify the million pesos in Medicare claims?
* * *
Of course, we should remember that many times, the Medicare inspectors caught some “hakot” patients with very questionable dextrose “connections.”
Many times too, the “hakot” patiens were caught lying because the “briefing” wasn’t extensive enough.
But just the same, no prosecution and no suspension either.
Why?
Well, lawyer Tim Cabatos knows the answer.
He lawyered for Conching in many of her Medicare cases.
* * *
Me, well, I talked to a top official of the Social Security System (SSS) in Manila.
And that official told me a lot. Yes, a lot.
He told me about his frustrations and disappointments in the prosecution of the Medicare cases.
He told me about deals, special arrangements and some shenanigans involving some officials in government. And these are all documented. In fact, some of these documents are in my possession.
Anyway, we shall slowly unravel some of these stories in our succeeding episodes.
* * *
Still remember that fateful interview of Cong. Ondoy Cajes over Cuentas Claras radio program several weeks ago?
Recall that there was an immediate blast from Cong. Ondoy that I was biased when I asked him about his statement that “ang partido maoy nagtuboy sa akong asawa, si Judith Cajes.”
He blurted a lot of emotional outburst about my being the lawyer of Governor Erico Aumentado on the CONA case before Comelec Manila.
Before he went berserk on the airlanes, I reminded him that my question had nothing to do with the CONA case, I was only interested to ask him about his previous pronouncement that it was the admin party that urged his wife Judith to run for congress in the 2nd district.
He immediately rectified his statement that “ang partido maoy nag-issue sa CONA.”
Naturally, he forgot to answer my question on whether or not it was the party, not he or his wife, who actively sought the position for his wife.
If he answered that it was really the party which initiated everything, then I would have confronted him with what I knew which was contrary to his assertion.
I happen to know that all the while, they had been planning for the candidacy of Judith Cajes, not as re-electionist mayor, but as congressman in the 2nd district.
This was long before the filing of COCs. And long before that very controversial unity mass, unity picture, unity raising of the hands and unity dinner which were nothing but a sham.
* * *
Sensing the hostility, Longcuts retreated because it would not be nice listening the heated exchange on air.
On the next interview with Cong. Ondoy Cajes, he was not as pikon as the first interview. He seemed friendly and there was no more heated exchange.
Nonetheless, I was cautious because things could get worse any minute.
* * *
Last Wednesday evening, somebody told me by text that Ondoy Cajes had just delivered a smoldering privilege speech in the House of Representatives.
In his speech, he reportedly attacked the governor, the provincial PNP chief and yours truly.
I contacted a friend in Congress who promised to provide me with a copy of the speech.
* * *
True enough, the speech is volcanic.
The protégé of the governor is now a man full of hatred and contempt against the governor.
But I leave the governor to answer the charges against him.
I will focus on the charges against yours truly.
* * *
It was totally unfair.
He destroyed and maligned me without giving me a chance to defend myself.
He accused me of lack of credibility in my home province.
I wonder where he got this stupid idea.
Right after taking the Bar Exam, I transferred residence sometime in 1989. I am now domiciled in Bohol and only visits my home province during special occasions.
I started my legal profession since then and joined the local media in the mid-90’s up to the present.
Where did Cong. Ondoy Cajes get that stupid idea about lack of credibility in my home province?
Another batch of lies, bay?
* * *
My engagement as legal counsel of Governor Aumentado in the CONA case before Comelec Manila is purely professional.
As a practicing lawyer before he became an honorable member of Congress, Ondoy Cajes knows that any case that comes our way is fair game to us lowlife.
A legal engagement means income. And in the case of the governor, it is not only income but a chance to expand the legal horizon.
So why the attack below the belt, bay Congressman?
More than that, why include me in your war against the governor?
* * *
When he attacked me in the House of Representatives, he knows that I could not defend myself.
He also knows that I could not run after him for his libelous utterances because he is clothed with parliamentary immunity.
But more than that, I have nothing to do with his present woes.
I called him up, talked to him and his wife, before writing my news item.
The only problem in this respect is that, he prefers to give his answers in other local newspapers. As his wife Judith Cajes told me once, they have arrangements with the Bohol Chronicle regarding news articles.
More so that this arrangement includes placing of advertisements also in the Bohol Chronicle.
I understand democracy and I have no intention to begrudge myself if that is their choice.
Nonetheless, I persevered in getting their side of the story. So when I wrote that “BETRAYAL” story involving Cong. Ondoy Cajes and Cong. Edgar Chatto, I took special efforts to solicit their sides.
There were ample background materials and interviews.
* * *
It goes without saying that I was only reporting an important event. I was just the messenger of the “bad” publicity.
I did not create it. They created the monsters themselves.
If Cong. Ondoy did not like my story, no problem because I didn’t expect him to read it anyway. He’s got his other newspapers to boot.
And more to the point, he has legal remedies if I wrote something false and malicious.
He said he has recordings. Good. Why not use these recordings here where it happens?
* * *
You see, the unity mass actually happened.
The unity picture also happened.
The unity dinner also happened.
The unity march to the Comelec provincial office also happened.
And the filing of a COC for Mayor of Trinidad, instead of filing a COC for vice governor also happened.
The filing of COC for congressman in the 2nd district, instead of filing a COC for mayoral reelection also happened.
All these were reported in this paper.
The smash up in Loboc of the Nissan Patrol registered in the name of Ondoy Cajes’ daughter Jane Censoria Cajes also happened.
The reported presence of Cong. Ondoy during the smash up was also reported.
Other papers also reported.
So why is Cong. Ondoy Cajes angry with yours truly?
* * *
Well, the succeeding episodes will be very interesting.
I have accumulated some exotic stories about Cong. Ondoy and Judith Lao Cajes.
Since this lowlife does not have the Halls of Congress at his disposal, we shall devote a lot of these interesting stories in this corner.
Abangan.
More when we return, stay tuned for more!