Monday, April 30, 2007 Fightings erupt anew in Pulupandan town By Nicolas C. Delfin
AFTER sharp verbal intramurals, comes the stone throwing and gun shots between supporters of opposing political candidates and parties in Pulupandan town Saturday afternoon in Barangay Zone 6.
Twenty-five persons including three women, a former mayor and a police officer were arrested after two unlicensed firearms were retrieved from their possession.
Arrested were former OIC mayor Oscar Somis, Bonito Chan, Marty Tumalaytay, Luz Gonato, Lilia Ocquias, Angelina Castillo, Crisinti Flores, Enrique Ramos, Henry Dogohoy, Sylvio Dagohoy, Mario Estares, Jimmy Agocejo, Eduardo Casildo, Rene Locsin, Jason Catuiran, Joffrey Gargarita, Joffrey Yunque, Elmar Rivera, Roger Rodilla, Jerry Garcia, Francisco Libratan and Leopoldo Ignacio.
All were identified as supporters of mayoralty candidate Magdaleno Peña, police report said.
Initial police investigation, showed that 25 supporters of Peña along with the court sheriff went to the residence of re-electionist Councilor Hedy Gonzales in Barangay Zone 6 to serve a court order for ejection.
But before they take over the house, numerous supporters of mayoralty candidate Samson Mondia came to oppose the action thus resulting to a stone throwing.
Worse, gunshots followed from unknown direction that caused people to scamper.
Fortunately, no one was reported hurt.
Pulupandan Police Chief Ariel Pico immediately responded to the commotion.
However, upon entrance to the Gonzales' residence, Pico was met by Police Officer 1 Winnie Espinosa of PNP Special Operations Group (SOG) and Ernesto Pedia who then turned over a .45 caliber pistol with seven live ammunitions and a caliber .38 revolver.
The two firearms were found to be unlicensed.
Espinosa and Pedia claimed they saw the guns near the kitchen but despite their claim, Pico brought them to the police station including the 23 others who were also inside the house during the incident and placed all of them under investigation.
Provincial Police Director Rosendo Franco, on the other hand, immediately sent two teams from the 612th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG), led by Superintendent Celestino Guara, to assist the local Pulupandan policemen in easing the tension.
"Such incident won't happen if they (supporters) only talk things out before resorting to violence. Kung problema man sa lupa yung pinag-aayawan sana dinaan nila sa mabuting usapan (If the problem was about the land conflict then they should have settled it peacefully)," Franco said.
Asked if he considers putting the town under Commission on Elections (Comelec) control, Franco said, "There are criteria to be considered first before doing this."
"Unless there's killing already then that’s the time Comelec would probably decide to put the town under its control. But for now, everything is still under control," he added.
Be cool
"I hope leaders of different political parties should talk and convince their supporters not to engage in any form of violence," Franco said.
"Kaya minsan lumalaki ang problema kasi nagpapadala sila sa kanilang emotion. Sana cool lang sila para hindi na umabot sa ganitong sitwasyon (Sometimes the problem gets worst because they got carried away by their emotion. They should cool down so it won’t reach in this situation)," he added.
As for Espinosa, Franco said he ordered that he be locked inside the detention cell while investigation is still being conducted.
He (Espinosa) will also face administrative charges, added Franco.
"He shouldn't be there in the area since the police are supposed to be off limits from involvements in any political disputes," explained Franco.
Espinosa is a member of the Special Operations Group (SOG) and is presently assigned at the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (Noppo) headquarters in Camp Alfredo Montelibano in Barangay Camingawan, Bacolod City.
Prior to the incident, I had already warned all my policemen not to get involve in any political problems else they will be caught in between and worse, be charged in court, added Franco.
Peña, in an interview with dyWB Saturday night asserted that his men should be released since they are the ones who were assaulted by Mondia's men.
As of press time Sunday night, Peña's men are still in jail.
Peña, though, stressed, "Violence never started with me or with my people, Peña said, adding that he signed the peace covenant while the Mondias did not.
He added that his men were all inside the house of Gonzalez after the latter decided to leave when the alleged goons of Mondia started hurling stones and shooting at them.
Incumbent Mayor Luis Mondia, younger brother of Samson, however, denied Peña's allegations saying that it was the latter's men who started shooting.
Franco said both parties can file charges and counter against each other to legally determine who really started the shooting incident while police investigation is still in progress.
Probers, meanwhile, would also like to know who among Mondia's supporters were involved in the stone throwing and shooting.
