THE opposition party in E.B. Magalona town is asking the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to place the town under the control of the Comelec due to complaints of alleged violence.
In a press conference Friday, April 26, of “Team Daba” led by mayoralty bet David Albert Lacson and his running mate Atty. Bambi Depasucat, they claimed that stones, bottles and iced water were thrown at them while they were having political caucus in barangays Tuburan and Pasil.
In Barangay Tuburan, Depasucat was hit on the right arm and that their caucus discontinued.
They claimed that such violence was agitated by the punong barangay of Tuburan whom they identified as political ally and leader of incumbent Mayor Marvin Malacon.
Depasucat said they have already reported the incidents at the E.B. Magalona police station and will file appropriate complaint/case against Barangay Captain Ramonito Espacio, Jr. before the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Comelec and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
Lacson said that they have a witness who saw Espacio commanded to throw iced water against his teammates.
Such incidents, Depasucat said, happened every time Lacson is about to speak before the audience in the two incidents.
Lacson also appealed to his opponent not to agitate his political leaders and officials to such violent moves to maintain a free, honest and peaceful election in the town.
“As I’ve said after the May 13 elections, our friendship will be there”, Lacson said.
Team Daba was joined in the press conference Friday by incumbent vice mayor Robert Acaling and former board member Patrick Lacson who were also present when the reported violence took place in two instances.
Acaling who was the running mate of Malacon in the 2016 elections has declared his official support for Team Daba and Lacson who is his brother-in-law. He also expressed hope that the Office of the Ombudsman would soon act on numerous criminal and administrative charges he filed against Malacon and other incumbent officials of the town.
When asked for his comment on the claims of his opponent, Malacon said that it was Team Daba who triggered the alleged throwing incidents.
“I have been controlling my supporters and leaders not to commit such act. I am emphasizing that we should campaign peacefully by just presenting our respective platforms of government,” Malacon said.
He added that Team Daba triggered the reported ice throwing incident.
“Barangay Tuburan is our turf. Acaling and former board member Patrick Lacson has been doing the mudslinging and attack against the barangay captain of Tuburan. His family and relatives and his constituents were listening to the attacks and mudslinging. How would they react to such situation?” Malacon pointed out.
He also claimed that former board member Patrick Lacson even attempted to pull a gun in Barangay Tuburan.
He said that he has no problem placing the town under Comelec control.
“They are the one who trigger the situation for our town to be put under Comelec control. I urge them to maintain the campaign professionally and peacefully and avoid mudslinging. If they have evidence to support their claims they should file it in proper agencies,” Malacon said.
“Comelec has not even put under their control some areas where there were killings. How much more E.B Magalona. They just want to trigger it out and that they want to portray that it is happening in the town so that what they want will be followed,” Malacon added.
On the part of Espacio, he said that he has no control and knowledge about the alleged ice throwing incident because he was already in his house and was already asleep.
“I gave them the permit to hold their caucus at the public plaza also upon the advice of Mayor Malacon for the people to also hear their platforms. But my family, our relatives, and our supporters heard them doing the mudslinging and damaging our name and reputation, that’s why they may have reacted but I have no hand in whatever happened,” Espacio said.
He said that he is ready to answer any complaint or charges against him as claimed by Team Daba.
Espacio also revealed that they have a video of the alleged harassment done by Board Member Patrick Lacson who went to his house and allegedly threatened him.
“Lacson was even pulling something when he arrived in my house and he was shouting while looking for me. We have the evidence of the harassment done against us,” Espacio added.