By Lito Rulona
REP. Jose Benjamin Benaldo of the city’s 1st District on Sunday continued to keep mum but his leader, Mayor Vicente Emano, made some attempts to make sense out of the congressman’s widely perceived “imeldific” lifestyle.
Mayor Emano
Emano said many of Benaldo’s clothes and accessories were fake and therefore, cheap, a pronouncement that raises a serious question on propriety. In effect, the mayor accused a member of Congress of breaking the law on intellectual property rights.
Emano also blamed politicians and accused them of being behind what he called a “well-orchestrated effort and well-funded move” to discredit Benaldo.
Emano did not identify the politicians he was referring to and neither did he support his allegations with any proof.
Emano told local radio the reports were “politically motivated.”
He said he and Benaldo met and the mayor told the congressman to “hang on.”
“This is a well-financed effort. This is pure [black] propaganda. Believe me, nay nagpaluyo niini. Paningkamot kini nga maguba gyud ang iyang pagkatawo unya mawala iyang higayon nga magpapili pag-usab pagka-kongresista,” said Emano.
“I am not defending him because he is with us but this is the truth. Mao kini ang kamatouran. This is a well-orchestrated effort and well-funded move (against Benaldo),” said Emano.
He said Benaldo has not been remiss in his work as congressman and has even carried out two to three infrastructure projects for every barangay in his district.
BENJO’S BMW AND EXPEDITION DON’T LOOK FAKE, MAYOR.. A driver cum bodyguard of Cagayan de Oro Rep. Jose Benjamin Benaldo strikes a pose in front of the BMW X5 luxury crossover SUV he is driving. The BMW was bought for some P4 million, according to a very reliable source. Notice the “8” license plate. At right, the driver makes a Ford Expedition shiny. The photos were provided by the source.
Emano said he expected more exposés in the coming days.
“We expect that. They started early. That means that they are going to push through with this until the elections. I told him ‘dili ka hunongan ani.’ I think more of this will be coming to destroy his chances of getting reelected,” said Emano.
Emano said Benaldo confided to him that some of his belongings were merely imitations bought abroad.
“Peke kanang uban niyang mga accessories, matud pa niya. Bisan gani diha sa kaulohan makapalit ka og peke nga mga accessories. Mga imitation kana. Lahi ang pagtan-aw sa tawo kung ang nagsul-ob congressman,” Emano said.
He did not say exactly which of the things Benaldo wears are genuine or fake.
The source earlier provided this paper photos of Benaldo partying and wearing allegedly high-priced clothes and accessories. The congressman, according to the source, has a collection of Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Hugo, Boss and Valentino, among others.
Rep. Jose Benjamin Benaldo strikes a pose. Take note of his Louis Vuitton shoes.
The source pointed to one of the photos which showed Benaldo allegedly with a P1.4-million Rolex watch, US$1,400-Hermes belt, US$400-Louis Vuitton cellphone pouch, US$300-Burberry shirt, US$200-jeans. Also included in the collection was a P40-thousand Ermenegildo Zegna suit and a P12-thousand necktie, according to the source.
The list of cars provided by a source showed a Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer, Ford Expedition Gold, Ford Explorer Sport Trac pickup, Kia Carnival, Mitsubishi Galant, Nissan Patrol, BMW X5 luxury crossover SUV, and a new Chevrolet SUV.
Emano earlier said he saw nothing wrong with Benaldo’s frequent travels abroad. He said it was his understanding that Benaldo used his own money for the travels, the last of which was with a 35-year old Russian blonde last June. A list provided to The Gold Star Daily earlier showed that Benaldo traveled abroad 11 times since he became congressman two years ago.
The source also said Benaldo flew to the US about a month after the Typhoon Sendong disaster.
Emano said Benaldo was with him at the height of the Typhoon Sendong disaster. He said this apparently in response to one of The Gold Star Daily stories that quoted a source as saying that there was reason to believe that the congressman was partying at the posh Republiq bar in Metro Manila in the evening of Dec. 16, 2011, the night “Sendong” struck.
But contrary to Emano’s claim, Benaldo was in Manila that night. He flew to Cagayan de Oro on Dec. 17, 2011.
Benaldo has repeatedly requested The Gold Star Daily not publish his comments.
His aide, Andrew Bascon, posted on Facebook that he and other staff members were fully behind the congressman whatever happens.
When this paper sought his comment, Bascon merely replied: “Pasagdi na sila.”
(Editor’s note: The Gold Star Daily started and has been running the series of investigative reports about the congressman’s lifestyle. The mayor is mistaken or is resorting to rhetorics and illusory ideas he cannot support. Whenever he is confronted with tough questions or runs out of answers, he always resorts to the overused “politically motivated” line without showing evidence, and he expects people to take his word as gospel truth.)
dakong bakak! bakakon ka dongkoy! mo sol ob sab na og fake! basin ikaw pa mo sol ob go fake!
HEHEHEHE ANOTHER TYPE OF STRATEGY OF DONGKOY EMANO… SA MAILAD LANG… MAAYO JUD KAAYO KA MU BAKAK… PERO SAYOP KA MAYOR.. DILI NA MU SU-OT UG PEKE NA SI BENALDO… TO THE RESCUE DAYON KA SA IMO PAMAKAK. KAY KABALO NAKA NA DILI LEGAL IYA GABUHATON AS PUBLIC SERVANT, LAHI NAPUD DAYON, BUT ITS ALWAYS WRITTEN INGON KA DAAN NA LEGAL KANA KAY DATU SILA DAAN… HAHAHAHA NA IGO SA IYA KAUGALING STORYA…. KARON PEKE HAHAHA ILARA ANG MAILAD… ANG POBRE IMO JUD GA TALO-TALOAN.. GA ILARON LANG TA PAILAD SAB INTAWON TA… MATA NAMO!!!!! USA LANG AKO MA STORYA “”"”"”"”ANG BAKAKON KARON PAINGON JUD NA CYA PAGKA KAWATAN…… ANG KAWATAN KARON MAO NA CYA PINAKA MAAYO MAMAKAK”"”" ASA KAHA SI DONGKOY ANI BAH? TUBAG PLS…..
There are several things to say here. If the “Benjo” (maybe that is a banjo having its strings plucked) items are real, then where did the money come from? If they are fake then he is violating the laws that govern the manufacture, sale and possession of counterfeit property. If Emano thinks this is an effort to discredit HIM, then he is apparently in the same figurative bed as the banjo/benjo and afraid the fallout will ensnare him as well..
oh my god… birds of the same feather protect each other.. hindi tayo talo sister… paging the DTI.. our dear congresswoman este man is guilty of economic sabotage.. fake sad… kabalo sad mi mutan aw ug fake uy… Gibugukan gyud ning atong mayor sa mga tawo ay… ang mga bugok naa ra sa city hall.. Hoy mayor vyelet and cong benjette… ayaw mi ilara… bistado na mo.!! bisag unsaon ninyo pag pugong sa utot.. mugawas ra gihapon ang baho..isumbong nato ni sa LV nga nagasuot ni si benjo ug fake…
the people of cagayan de oro are not stupid!
pasabot nysa sa istupido kay mga tao nga bisan kabalo mag binisaya sigig iningglisay kay ga tuo nga mas guapo tanawon og mag iningglisay nga musamot na hinoon ka bisaya!
for me eventhough benjo is a congressman im naa sad na siya delikadesa imposible kaayu n inyu gna pang accuse ke benjo im sure kung napalit man gane na niya na mga butanga sariling pera nya na naa sya work pra mo sustento sa iya mga gusto kung gusto sya mag laag mag enjoy well right nya na kamo sad unta na mga politiko dli mo mag isig binantayay diskarte mo ug unsay mka maayu sa ato tanan daghan kaayu n butang para tagaan ninyu ug pansin daghan pajud kaayu daghan nagkailangan sa inyu tabang opinion rane naku ke oncern ko para sa tanan nga nagkailangan sa inyu tabang…….
murag bago pa siguro ka cdo.. fyi… dili ing ana ang lifestyle ni benjo sa una… nadato lang na sila sa panahon ni gloria labandera(ug kwarta)… nahimo ug undersecretary iya papasa DILG ug bestfwens na si benjo ug si mikee… mao ng mikalit ug dato si benjo…
@windsor habana, Mangilad man sab ka parts, daghan taga CDO nagtrabaho sa Oil & Gas nga mo suweldo ug 300K ang bulan dili man gani kapalit ug BMW, Explorer, F150 ug uban pa. kana na hinoong 60K ra ang suweldo makapalit na hinoon. e utot na oy!
@Kit, pasayloa lang na si windsor habana. negative one (-1) ang IQ anang tawhana!
Wow! sosyal… i envy you. enjoy life coz life is too short to be wasted. You can buy/get anything you want as long as you do your part as a congressman.
COOL!
for thoughts…. Section I, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution which provides that “public officers must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and lead modest lives.” Section 4 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees “public officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income. They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form.” MAO NANG NAA SA BALAOD…. SO PEKE DAYON… SURE HE CAN AFFORD BUT A LAW IS A LAW… OBEY IT OR JUST QUIT BEING A CONGRESSMAN, YOU ARE MAKING LAWS THEN YOU DON’T FOLLOW… WATTA….!!! OR BASIG WLA JUD KAY NABUHAT SA CONGRESS????
what? Benjo bought fakes? fakes are like buying stolen goods & are illegal and as congressman he should know that! well he obviously have no morals to think buying fakes is OK at magnanakaw ka na rin when you buy fakes so that’s why don’t vote politicians who wears fake. Pwede ka naman magsuot ng local brands! Nasa nagdadala lang yan kung onngoy ka magdamit kaman ng ginto unngoy ka parin.
correct! But I highly doubt his items are fake. Brand conscious mashado si benjita
mao ka na na gi tawag na ‘TH’ trying hard to be rich! filthy rich!
walay laing mabasol ani kun dili ang mga taong butol nga mibotar aning mga klase sa politiko. kung sa bagay wala pud politiko sa pilipinas nga dili kurakot. tanan kurakot mao na gusto kaayo nila nga mga katawhan padayon sa pagpamaligya sa ilang mga boto para ila ma justify ilang pagpangurakot na unya sa kaban ng bayan. filipinos noted to be the most educated idiots by some nationalities especially in the western side of the globe will continue to be unique country appropriate to its tourism advocacies as WOW Philippines and recently, it’s more fun in the philippines! it speaks not only its natural habitats but also the kind of people it has being funny… known to be one of the happiest or funniest people in this world.
I AGREE 8S A WELL FUNDED DEMOLITION JOB.BUT I DONT AGREE HIS THINGS ARE FAKE! WELL FUNDED BCOZ A RELIABLE SOURCE TOLD ME DURING A DRINKING SPREE THAT OCA WILL RUN 4 THE FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL SEAT!!! HADLOK SIYA KAY WALA MA TAY-OG DONGKOY SA ILA MGA BATIKOS! IYA CHANCE VS DONGKOY 50-50 AS PER CAPITOL SURVEY.SO DILI CYA MO GAMBLE,MOA NGA SA CONGRESSIONAL SEAT NALANG IYA TARGET!!! PAKITANG TAO LANG NA IYA STORYA NGA MAYOR IYA DAGANAN.SUMALA BA,PIPILA NA KA SEMANA WALA SIYA ATAKE KANG DONGKOY…SI BENJO NA ANG IYA GI PUNTERYA KARUN!!! SO ITS EMANO VS KLAREX PART 2 FOR 2013!!!
mga masinahon sig lag panglibak labon mag tinabanga para dili mailad sa mga porener nga mga kawatan!
I regret voting for Benjo when he ran as Congresman a few years back. However, I am surprised at how this article was written. It is obviously aimed to discredit Mr. Benaldo. This is the kind of article usually read in gossip websites. This is what Goldstar calls news now? Even the disclaimer sounds very biased. And no, I am not even a fan of Mr Emano. I am just upset at this kind of journalism. It’s not professional. Makes one wonder how much money was involved to get this published.
sayang, ka sayang…