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Monday, March 01, 2004
Goons exist in Escalante?
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
* If proved that Escalante's mayoralty bets are indeed employing private goons, then it will be declared as an "immediate area of concern" and be placed under Comelec control with operatives of the Armed Forces ensuring the peace and order
EVEN before the official campaign period for local candidates could begin, two mayoralty candidates in Escalante City are accusing each other of having "private goons" equipped with long and high-powered firearms reportedly in preparation for the forthcoming May 10 elections.
Incumbent Provincial Board (PB) Member Rolando Ponsica of the 1st District accused Mayor Santiago "Mai-Mai" Barcelona of employing private goons to escort him in barangay visitations.
Ponsica, in a press conference of the Partido ng Masa-Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (PMP-KNP) in Bacolod City last Saturday, disclosed that Barcelona has about 38 armed men paid by the city under the casual plantilla payroll.
Ponsica further disclosed that aside from two regular policemen detailed to Barcelona by city police chief Castor Laluma, the mayor has 38 other individuals who serve as members of his so-called "private army" equipped with long and high-powered firearms.
Not me
On the other hand, Barcelona belied Ponsica's accusations in a telephone interview.
"Not me, it's Ponsica who has private armies which he imported from Cebu City and Calatrava and Toboso towns in Negros Occidental."
Barcelona, however, refused to comment on the issue of his alleged 38 casual employees who now serve allegedly as his private goons and being paid by the city's money.
"As far I as I know, goons are armed men employed to harass and intimidate people," the mayor said, as he challenged Ponsica to prove his allegations.
Ponsica, a former activist and mayor of then Municipality of Escalante, is challenging Barcelona in the his third and final term.
Conditioning
Army 1Lt. Charlie Banaag, 11th Infantry "Lapu-Lapu" Battalion spokesperson, on the other hand, disclosed what he called an "immediate threat" in Escalante City two weeks ago.
The threat, Banaag said, was the possibility of an attack by the New People's Army on the City's two operational ports.
Ponsica said though that it has been concocted by Mayor Barcelona "not for internal security purposes but for himself."
Barcelona, Ponsica added, is always fond of initiating mind conditioning among the people of Escalante to portray that his life is in danger.
On the other hand, Banaag refused to comment on the reported private armies either of Barcelona or Ponsica.
Escalante is one local government unit under the area of responsibility (AOR) of the 11th IB.
Not new
This news, however, has already been received by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as early as January, said provincial supervisor Marsha Cordero.
"That's the reason why we placed Escalante City as among the areas to watch out for this coming election," said Cordero in a phone interview Sunday night.
"As far as I know, Barcelona is accused of having members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) as his private armies while Ponsica of having (the support) of the New People's Army (NPA)," said Cordero.
Both (Ponsica and Barcelona), however, denied the report during investigation, Cordero said.
Convoy
Ponsica said, "actually the truth is that, every time Mayor Mai-Mai goes out to campaign he has three convoy vehicles loaded with armed men."
He also added that every vehicle has a box containing long and high-powered firearms.
Ponsica challenged authorities to "be brave enough" to conduct a probe and discover Barcelona's secret campaign operation.
Senior Supt. Vicente Ponteras, provincial police director, promised Sunday to look into Ponsica's allegation.
"We need to check it carefully especially the veracity of the information," he said.
Ponteras said they would also verify Barcelona's counter-allegation.
Escalante was one of the five cities and town in the province tagged as an "area of concern" for the May 10 elections because of either intense political rivalry or presence of armed groups in the area.
Others are the cities of Cadiz, Himamaylan, Silay and Talisay and the town of Moises Padilla.
Immediate area of concern
Ponteras, however, said if proved that Escalante's mayoralty bets are indeed employing private goons, then it will be declared as an "immediate area of concern" and placed under Comelec control with operatives of the Armed Forces ensuring the peace and order.
But Cordero said declaring Escalante under Comelec control would take a long process.
Allegations of the existence of private goons by both Barcelona and Ponsica shall be verified thoroughly, she said.
"If and when proved positive, all policemen in the area will be disarmed including the chief of police; the Army will control the area then," Cordero further explained.
Cordero also said, "What I worry (about) right now is that the war in Escalante will not only escalate between Ponsica and Barcelona but also between the warring RPAs and NPAs."
Peace pact
Ponsica said he is willing to subscribe to the proposed peace pact or peace covenant by the Comelec, Army and Police just to ensure a peaceful electoral exercise in Escalante.
"What I really want is for the people of Escalante to have a peaceful and honest elections,' he said.
He admitted though that he and Barcelona will surely have a very "tight" contest in the mayoralty post.
"What I can assure everybody and the law enforcement agencies is that I am a strong adherent of Comelec rules and guidelines especially for the no use of armed groups and guns (during elections)," Ponsica stressed.
Command conference
Cordero said that the Escalante issue will be taken up in a command conference of the police, army and Comelec maybe next week.
Topics to be discussed in the conference are the possible election-related incidents especially in cities and town tagged as "areas of concern" and the measures to be imposed to avert any untoward incidents, Cordero said.
All chiefs of police, army battalion commanders, including top ranking officials from both the police and army will attend the conference.
Best police station
The mudslinging between both camps came even as the Escalante City Police Station was adjudged as this year's "Best of the Best PNP Station" nationwide.
PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Hermogenes Ebdane was in Escalante to inaugurate the newly built Escalante City police station building Saturday.
Ponsica, a former activist, was then mayor of Escalante in 1988 to 1998. He then became board member of the 1st District from June 1998 up to the present.
Barcelona, on the other hand, is a known businessman in Escalante.
He started his political life in 1998 after being elected mayor of then Municipality of Escalante.
(March 1, 2004 issue)
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