SAN SIMON – “Why will I kill someone I do not even consider as my rival or enemy?”
This was the question of Mayor Leonora Wong directed to Fourth District Representative Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc after the latter alleged that politics is behind the death of a former mayoralty candidate here.
Simbulan, who is known as a staunch ally of Bondoc, and former mayor Manny Bondoc, lost to Wong during the May 2016 polls.
Bondoc, in a separate interview, claimed that the death of San Simon Liga ng mga Barangay President and Concepcion Village chief Sonny Simbulan is politically motivated.
“Siguradu pu, pulitika ang dahilan. Tirisyunan de ding kalaban nang Tatang Sonny. Tirisyunan de kasi tatakut lang masambut, simbutan de mu keng election pero ali ing prinsipyung dadala ng Tatang Sonny para keng balen San Simon (Surely, politics is the reason. Our friend Sonny was killed by his rivals. He was assassinated because of their fear to lose. They only defeated him during the elections but not his vision for the town of San Simon),” he said.
However, Wong asserted that involvement of politics in the death of Simbulan is not relevant based on the political position of the victim.
She stressed that elections in the local government is already over and the results clearly echoes the voice of Simonians.
“Ot papate ku neman ing simbut kung mahigit 8,000? Deng tao twice da na kung binoto as mayor and ing last term, overwhelming ing lamang. I do not the reason or motive to kill my supposed rivals. Besides, I am already on my last term (Why would I order the death of someone I defeated by more than 8,000? The people have voted for me as mayor and during my last term, the results were overwhelming),” she said.
She added that barangay elections are not also pertinent as Simbulan is already on his last term as village chief.
Wong reminded Bondoc to review his statements first before divulging them to media to avoid confusion among the public.
She added that if he is really up in helping the family in finding justice for his political ally, it must be translated into action and not his words alone.
Meanwhile, Wong urged the family of Simbulan to help the police in resolving the case of their patriarch.
“Dapat magbigay sila ng ibang anggulo, kung ano ang ginagawa ng asawa niya at kung may mga kaaway ba,” she said.
Wong said that the family must not cover up for the alleged “illegal activities” of Simbulan which may be the reason behind his sudden death.
Wong alleged that Simbulan is involved in various illegal activities including his involvement with the reds, illegal gambling and prohibited drugs.
“Maraming anggulo ang dapat nilang tignan dahil sila mismo saksi sa ginagawa ni Sonny. Wag nila i-mislead yung police kung gusto nila ng hustisya. They must tell the truth,” she noted.