Marquez-Bañares ‘word war’ heats up

Noel Cabobos

KALIBO, Aklan – The word war between a newspaper publisher here and Governor Carlito Marquez exacerbated after the former claimed that he has personal knowledge of the latter’s alleged extra-marital affairs.

In an interview with Bombohanay Bigtime anchorman Jan Allen Ascaño, Jimmy Bañares, publisher of People’s Chronicle, claimed that Marquez is maintaining an illicit affair with his househelp.

Bañares did not elaborate but said he that the governor’s alleged paramour is now staying in Balete town.

Bañares on Friday filed a blotter report with the Kalibo PNP station accusing Marquez of threatening and detaining the former at the Capitol’s guesthouse Thursday.

The publisher said he was at the guesthouse to collect some P3,000 in advertisement fee.

Bañares also claimed in the blotter that the governor called him an “assassin” while telling the Capitol guards that they can shoot him anytime.

Marquez denied Bañares accusations saying he has even helping the publisher’s paper “out of mercy”.

HEATING UP

In his interview yesterday, Bañares said Marquez may have been outraged by his investigation into the latter’s alleged extra-marital affair.

In his meeting with members of the Aklan press Friday, Marquez strongly denied having a paramour. He even joked that “Kung tsiks lang damo to tsiks sa Manila (If we talk about women, there’s a lot in Manila).”

FILING CHARGES

Unperturbed by the possibility that the governor might get back at him, Bañares told The Daily Guardian yesterday that he is pursuing charges against the governor for detaining and threatening him inside the Capitol’s guesthouse last week.

He said he already hired a Manila-based lawyer who will help him file the necessary charges.

“There’s no backing out. I am pursuing the charges against Gov. Marquez, whatever happens,” he said.

AUMA explains side

The hullabaloo that resulted from the alleged detention of Bañares has caught the local media in the crossfire.

In a resolution issued yesterday, the Aklan United Media Association (AUMA) clarified that its member entities have nothing to do with Bañares’ conflict with the governor.

“AUMA would like to set the record straight that it has nothing to do with the operations of Mr. Bañares and he can never be sanctioned or put under investigation by the Association as he is not a member and had never been a member of the Association,” the resolution said.

The resolution added: “AUMA would like to further set the record straight that it is supportive of the ideals and spirit of the covenant for honest, orderly and peaceful elections. And that the AUMA vows to uphold decency in its reportage of events vis-à-vis campaign and election matters as well as help in the preservation of peace and order during the May 14 election.”

The association also denied insinuations made by Marquez and some politicians that the Aklan media is being used in dirty tactics of their opponents.

AUMA said they do no want to create more conflicts and harm those who are not involved in the controversy.