Reluya denies guns and goons allegations

CEBU, Philippines - San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya has denied all accusations hurled at her and her husband, including the allegation that she has employed guns and goons to tame her constituents.

“These are all baseless accusations aimed to topple me down. But if, before, I was affected, karon murag namanhid na ko ani nila,” Reluya told The Freeman.

Two letters dated January 12, 2009 and one other, which did not bear any date, contained the allegations received by Malacañang on March 13, 2009. The Office of the President then forwarded the letters to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The letters alleged that the Reluyas are car smugglers and that they employ “drug addicts” and “drug pushers” at the municipal hall.

“Those were all lies. Kaya nga hindi nag-prosper eh,” Reluya said.

The last complaint dated May 6, 2009 stated how Reluya and her husband allegedly “scare” the people with their “modern high caliber type of guns” and “ammunitions” allegedly distributed among male residents in the town’s mountain barangays to persecute the couple’s enemies.

The sender called themselves “San Fernando constituents.”

“These guns were imported from Dipolog City knowing that Nonoy Reluya is an ally of Abu Sayyaf,” read the two-page letter.

The letter also went on to say that Reluya is “psychologically incapacitated” that they ask the president not she be disqualified from running as mayor.

The complainants alleged that Renee Canoy who Reluya defeated in the 2007 elections with an 18-vote difference was the actual winner. Reluya, however, said the Commission on Elections has already solved the protest filed by Canoy, thus, there is no longer any issue.

In a decision dated March 9, 2009, the Comelec second division affirmed the decision of the Regional Trial Court, which dismissed the election protest filed against Reluya because protestant-appellant Renee Canoy failed to pay the necessary fees required in filing the case.

Reluya said she believes that her political rivals were the ones that sent the letters to Malacañang.

She said she expects more attacks from her rivals, considering that she has already expressed intention to seek reelection in 2010 elections.

Former Mayor and incumbent Vice Mayor Antonio Canoy or his son Councilor Miguel Canoy, are reportedly set to contest Reluya in next year’s polls.

“Di ko inutil. I’ve been a working mayor since my first day of office and the people know that. I’m not threatened by these allegations. They can file some more if they want. I’m also not threatened if they will run against me because as a mayor for more than two years, I have not been a lame duck contrary to their claims,” Reluya said.

The Office of the Ombudsman called Reluya and her husband Nonoy for a hearing on the complaint last Thursday. The meeting was also for the Reluyas to respond to the complaint.

Reluya said that this is the first time that she has a case before the Ombudsman, as normally it was she who filed cases against alleged “erring” public officials in her town.

Reluya has lodged two separate cases against her vice mayor for alleged overpriced purchases of trash bins and heavy equipment, which were acquired during his incumbency as mayor. — Liv G. Campo/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)