Radaza retorts: Pelaez is “plainly politicking”

CEBU, Philippines – Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza assailed businessman Efrain Pelaez, Jr. of “plainly politicking” after the latter became “suddenly” concerned about her pending case of the now-defunct Rural Bank of Subangdaku.

Aside from re-opening the RBS issue, Pelaez also filed a garbage issue for the third time, after it got dismissed few years ago.

“I think he is plainly politicking  just like how  he used the garbage issue by filing a case against me for the third time before the Office of the Ombudsman,” Radaza said.

The Pelaez camp had declared yesterday that depositors of RBS are now pursuing a case of the alleged syndicated estafa against Radaza, who is a former official of the said bank.

Pelaez, on a recent press statement, reminded the public that 22 counts of fraud filed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Depositors Insurance Corp. were “serious criminal charges” and that Radaza could not escape from these cases.

Pelaez, chairman of the city’s Liberal Party and poised to run for the third time for the mayoralty post, also accused Radaza of “trying to smokescreen the RBS issue with political theatrics and zarsuela, adding that the feud between her family was nothing but a polictical ploy.”

Radaza, however, said in an earlier statement that her bank issue had nothing to do with her as a mayor.

“Motumaw ra man ni si Pelaez kung elections na, ug magpakita kunohay naa sa iyahang kasing-kasing ang katawhan. He’s hurt because 750 of his leaders left him and is now supporting me,” said the mayor.

Last week, the former allies of Pelaez met with Radaza and vowed to support and campaign for her.

Citing the “equity of the incumbent” principle, LP spokesperson Joe Ycong said Radaza is the standard bearer of the LP and not Pelaez, who he identified as an “ordinary member” of the party.

Radaza said: “He (Pelaez) is angry because his leaders said he is a good businessman, but not a good leader.”

Since the issue on garbage waste was re-filed again by Pelaez, Radaza urged him to find a  resonable issue.

“This is clearly and act of bullying by a mayoralty bet who wants to earn pogi points only. I will not give in to this kind of campaigning. I urged Pelaez to find a legitimate issue and let’s discuss it in public,” Radaza challenged  the businessman.