PULUPANDAN -- The family of Magdaleno "Magsi" Peña and his former live-in partner Saturday aired their support for the mayoralty bid of Samson Mondia and the people who are angry at his moves to evict them from their houses.

Peña's mother, Lina, brother Bonifacio and former live-in partner Plinky Recto arrived as Pulupandan residents, who booed his 26 supporters brought in for questioning, gathered in front of the Pulupandan police station.

They said they were batting for the mayoralty bid of Mondia against Magdaleno, and were there to show support for the people. They were later joined by another relative, Gretchen Cojuangco, wife of business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco, and were cheered by residents gathered outside the police station.

Mrs. Cojuangco said she was in Pulupandan because her first cousin, Lina Peña, asked her to join them.

"I never thought I would merit so much attention, I am flattered," was Magdaleno Pena's reaction to the presence of his relatives.

Lina said her son, Magdaleno, is not a good person because he has even turned against her, his own mother.

"I am his mother and I know what kind of person he is," she said, adding that she was also standing by Plinky Recto and believes what she has said against her son.

Recto has charged Magdaleno for physically abusing her, but he has denied the allegation.

Mrs. Peña said she was at the police station to support Mondia and the people of Pulupandan.

Recto said she was in Negros to campaign for the re-election bid of her brother, Senator Ralph Recto.

She also said she was in Pulupandan "to support Tita Lina and the people she is supporting in the town."

I hope the people vote for the right mayor of Pulupandan, she said.

"A lot has happened to the mother and lola of my child and to me. Is it right to choose a mayor who hurts people and gets land that is not his?" she asked.

She said she has also been deprived of her right as a mother from seeing her child.

Since September she has not been able to see her son who is in the custody of Magdaleno Peña, she said.

Recto and Magdaleno Peña have been engaged in a legal battle for custody of their son. Recto said she has filed a complaint before the Supreme Court against the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court judge hearing her case against her former live-in partner.

Peña said he was not getting land that did not belong to him from people against whom he is seeking eviction in Pulupandan. He said the land belongs to him and his relatives.

He also said he wishes Recto would come and visit their son everyday. "He has her beautiful eyes," he added. I always show him her picture and he says "mama," Peña said.*CPG

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