Iriga mayor blames political opponents for wife’s charges

IRIGA CITY — Mayor Emmanuel Alfelor who has been charged by his wife for multiple murders said yesterday that the charges hurled against him could have been concocted by his political rivals and not on her own volition.

Alfelor said during a press conference at the local restaurant here at about 10:30 a.m. said that Madeleine Tosoc Alfelor, his wife, had filed the charges against him for fear of her life and fear from their children and family.

"I was hurt by what she had said and done but I know her acts could have stemmed from politics," said Alfelor.

"Was it because of personal anger against me or my family or because only of politics?," he asked.

Madeleine charged her husband with the murder of Reynaldo Licup, a Department of Trade and Industry official, Jesse Remodo and his driver last Dec. 4, inside a videoke bar along the Maharlika Highway in Baas town, in Camarines Sur.

Based on an affidavit she issued to the media at the DOJ office, she said she had been hiding for the past three months due to fear. She said that Mayor Alfelor and Iriga City administrator lawyer Aldo Turiamo along with eight others had orchestrated the killing of Licup and two others.

Along with Madeleine’s affidavit was an attached letter to the mayor written by her dated Sept. 1, 1991 when she first ran away from their home for alleged sexual abuses and injury committed by her husband.

Alfelor said that he has already forgiven those who have been behind this plot on his life and political career. But he said that he will not allow that justice will not be granted to his wife and family before the eyes of God and man.

But Madeleine emphasized that she was not influenced by her husband’s political enemies.

Alfelor told The STAR that her revelation and the marital rape case she filed against her husband was not about politics.

"I came out to put a stop to this and all similar incidents. I know there are many women out there who are going through what I went through," she said.

Madeleine could only shake her head in disappointment over her husband’s statement that he has forgiven those who were behind the "plot on his life and his political career."

Madeleine’s story again brought to fore the issue of domestic violence and the Anti-Abuse of Women in Intimate Relationships (AWIR) law, which has been passed in the Lower House and is now pending at the Senate. She now finds solace from the help of the women’s group, Gabriela, and Womenlead, which offers feminist counseling and legal services program.

Last week, Madeleine filed for the annulment of her marriage to Alfelor. She said she is still discussing with her lawyers the possibility of filing administrative charges against her husband before the Office of the Ombudsman, in relation to the murders of Licup and two other men.

"I feel both anger and self-pity. I always ask myself when will this end?," she said.