Faith healer-politician irate over 'marital' mess

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Faith healer-turned politician Ramon “Jun” Labo sounded irate over resurrected issues on his marital situation with his Russian wife.

Labo, who was twice unseated as Baguio City mayor over his Australian citizenship, claimed in a telephone interview here that his marriage with his Russian wife - Ilysabetha Coconachea - is undergoing the usual court process.

An annulment was accordingly filed to dissolve Labo’s marriage with Coconachea three years ago in Las Piñas.

“They are only digging that up maybe because of my political plans,” Labo said in obvious distaste over “news” that Coconachea with her lawyer and policemen “broke” into their large estate along Naguillian Road recently to confront the former mayor over his recent “wife.”

Accordingly, Coconachea, who even studied law at the Saint Louis University here, found Labo’s other woman hiding inside the conjugal house at the Labo estate.

The former mayor, though, did not deny there was such an incident but it was three years ago and “not very recent.”

“It maybe because of politics,” Labo, who once “treated” former strongman Ferdinand Marcos and many powerful men and women in the country.

After Marcos fled the country in 1986, Labo ran and won as mayor in Baguio City but was unseated because of his Australian citizenship. Again in 1992, Labo won the mayoralty race but was shocked to be unseated again.

He also ran but lost a mayoralty race in Dagupan City in 2004.

Lately, questions on his citizenship have been ironed out and Labo ran but again lost as mayor in Baguio during the last polls.

“Talk” is rife that Labo has been aligning himself with a few politicians in the city and is eyeing another shot at the city’s topmost position.