CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Former Caloocan City mayor Rey Malonzo advised over the weekend Pampanga gubernatorial bet Danilo Baylon to stop trusting his adviser and mouthpiece, former Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo.
“Negosyo lang ang habol nun [Pelayo], hoping na yung kandidato niya manalo at mahahawakan niya mga negosyo sa probinsya. Kaya kwidaw po, caution, Mr. Baylon,” Malonzo said in a video message sent to mainstream media.
Malonzo, a former action movie star who traces his roots to San Simon, Pampanga, said he could not remain silent out of his concern for his fellow Kapampangans after he chanced upon videos of Pelayo allegedly maligning and imputing wrongdoings on provincial officials.
“Huwag po kayong maniwala kay Mr. Pelayo. Kung kilala ninyo yan, mas kilala ko yan. Dumating yan sa akin kahit singko sentimos walang hawak. Pero nung umalis po yan sa akin, nung matapos ang poder ko as mayor for nine years, sangkaterbang pera na po meron yan,” Malonzo said.
“Siguro dapat ang [Bureau of Internal Revenue] pag-aralan yan eh kung paano siya nagkaroon ng ganyang pera, ano ba ang mga naging negosyo niya? Ano ba naging kita niya,” he added.
According to Malonzo, Pelayo did not help him in his battle against the powerful Asistios in Caloocan City, appearing only when he was sworn into office in 1995. He said he treated him as a friend and took him along on overseas trips. Aside from winning contracts, Pelayo allegedly put his relatives as consultants.
Although friends, Malonzo said he refused to pay Pelayo’s P18-million plant watering project because the latter allegedly charged fees for services even when it rained or a storm occurred.
Malonzo said Pelayo failed to give him his share of five hectares from 11 hectares of farm in Candaba and a P13-million house in Quezon City which he saved from being seized by a bank.
Malonzo believed that Pelayo continues to have political ambitions, which was why he sees him pandering to the opposition.
“Actually, nung mayor pa siya ng Candaba, nagpaparamdam na siya na gusto niyang lumaban bilang gobernador ng Pampanga,” recalled Malonzo.
Pelayo was elected to three terms as Candaba mayor from 2004 to 2013, serving as president of the Pampanga Mayors’ League for a time too. He ran for the fourth district congressional seat in 2013 and lost to then-incumbent Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc.
In a direct message to Pelayo, Malonzo said: “Jerry, kung ikaw ay nakikinig, tigilan mo na ang mga kasinungalingang ginagawa mo sa mga tao. Tama na yung ginawa mo sa akin. Alam ko naman hindi lang yun ang habol mo [kay Baylon]. Marami ka nang kinita sa akin. Tama na siguro yun. Manahimik ka na.”
Right of reply
Calls and messages to Pelayo in his Facebook page for his response to the issues raised by Malonzo were unreturned as of posting time. Punto News Team
