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Monday, March 29, 2004
Enardecido denies harassment claim
By Jimmy P. Abayon
AYUNGON Mayor Edsel Enardecido denied Friday allegations that he harassed two political leaders of mayoralty candidate Lorenzo Dy.
Mayor Enardecido was reacting to reports that he harassed Dy's leaders Ignacio Cadeliñaand Pastor Visitacion in at least two occasions this month.
On the first allegation that he ordered the two leaders to unearth and remove the plastic pipe of a water system project installed by Dy, Enardecido admitted doing so.
But, he explained that it was only to give way to the laying down of a bigger pipe that will supply water to majority of the residents.
The mayor clarified that he opened the water reservoir system to improve the water supply distribution system in Mabato.
But before he could install the large hose, Enardecido said Dy and his supporters installed their own plastic pipe without informing him.
On the second allegation about the alleged gunfire while the two village leaders were singing with friends, the mayor said, "It is only their imagination."
Early this week, provincial attorney Vergara said he has requested Enardecido and Mabato barangay chairman Cristito Alcala to explain their alleged harassing of the two political leaders.
Aside from the letter request to both officials, Vergara also submitted a copy of the police blotter report of the alleged harassments, one last March 4 and the latest on March 21 to the provincial office of the Commission on Election.
The provincial attorney said he hopes that with his intervention, alleged victims Ignacio Cadeliña and Pastor Visitacion, will be safe from further harm.
Mayor Enardecido said he has not received the said letter but that he welcomes the attempt to explain his side.
The mayor, who supports the presidential bid of Fernando Poe Jr., said he wants the issue to rest to ensure a peaceful and orderly election in the municipality.
Cadeliña and Visitacion, known leaders of Governor George Arnaiz and provincial Board Member Dy who is challenging Enardecido's leadership, claimed that the mayor and several members of the Ayungon municipal council ordered them to unearth and remove the plastic pipe of the water system project installed by Dy to supply water to Sitio Masag-ong.
Both claimed further that during that incident, Enardecido threatened "something bad" will happen to them once he is reelected.
The two farmers said they thought the incident would not happen again, but that last March 21, armed men fired guns near them while they were enjoying singing inside the house of Mabato tanod chief Nomar Ogates.
Visitacion said the two incidents are politically motivated because they are supporting Dy.
He said the mayor himself told them that he did not like their supporting the mayoralty bid of the board member.
Moreover, Visitacion said Enardecido had been courting their support but that they had refused.
(March 28, 2004 issue)
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