REVOLUTIONARY Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) National Commander Carapali Lualhati denied Monday that their members in the province are intimidating some candidates to favor their candidates in the coming May polls.
"It is a desperate move by Murcia Mayor Esteban 'Sonny' Coscolluela and his way to be the subject of the news and to justify himself because he knew that he is losing in the coming May 10 elections," Carapali said in a press conference Monday.
The rebel leader said that if there is harassment and intimidation, it is Coscolluela who is the incumbent mayor of Murcia doing this because he maintains his goons at the family-owned Hacineda Puyas.
Carapali said Coscolluela, who is also running for congressman at the third district, came up with the intimidation allegation after he campaigned in Sitio Cubay, Barangay Tabigue, E.B. Magalona.
"Daw ga baligya to siya bolong nga amo na iya style magkampanya. (His style of campaign was like selling medicines). The wife of Ka Kenneth who is a barangay kagawad of the place, frankly told the mayor of Murcia that they are supporting Marañon for governor and Albee Benitez for congressman. Is it intimidation? In that area, Coscolluela would hardly get even 10 votes," Carapali said.
"Coscolluela also alleged that his posters were removed in Barangay Consing also in E.B. Magalona by members of the RPA-ABB carrying long firearms. Why would our members bring those M16 or M14? They doesn't need to carry them and besides who is doing the illegal operation because those posters were not displayed at the designated common poster areas by the Comelec," Carapali added.
Carapali, who is the RPA-ABB representative to the Joint Enforcement Monitoring Commission (JEMC), is temporarily on leave with the peace negotiation between their group and the government. She is also the National Commander of the RPA-ABB.
The rebel leader admitted that he and Ka Kenneth, who is the district leader at the third district of the rebel group, are personally supporting the candidacy of Marañon and Benitez.
In Murcia, Carapali said he is supporting mayoral candidate Andrew Montelibano.
Carapali explained that Coscolluela negotiated with Ka Kenneth for support but failed to get it. He said he and Ka Kenneth support Marañon and Benitez because their projects are really worthy for the majority of the people of Negros and the third district.
He said he is also close to former governor Rafael Coscolluela as they are both members of the negotiating team. (TED)