Pulupandan will soon have additional policemen as authorities brace for the possibility of intense political rivalry among candidates in the May 14 elections.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, yesterday said the policemen to be deployed in Pulupandan will come from the 600 new Region 6 policemen who were among those who secured the recent ASEAN summit in Cebu.

A political feud appears to be brewing in Pulupandan between the Mondia and Peña families.

While Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia is reportedly not seeking re-election, one of his brothers is said to be eyeing the mayorship.

Businessman Magadaleno Peña, on the other hand, yesterday denied that he is running for mayor of Pulupandan but said his sister, Sylvia Suatengco, will.

He also said trouble will only ensue if the Mondia enter his property.

SPO2 Ernesto Eneserio, officer-in-charge of the Pulupandan police, yesterday admitted the state of tension among some town residents as indicated by the early signs of intense political rivalries among probable candidates, although it is still manageable as of this time.

Eneserio admitted having received threats through a text message, days after he temporarily assumed the command from Inspector Nestor Tuadles who went on a study leave in Cebu.

Franco called the threats against Eneserio "normal".

He also said it has not yet been determined how many of the 600 new policemen will be allocated to Negros Occidental, or to be dispatched to Pulupandan.

Peña has issued notices to 1,200 Pulupandan residents, including Vice Mayor Julia Fernandez-Semenio, to vacate property owned by his family, on which he said they are squatting.

Gov. Joseph Marañon on Monday said any landowner owner has the right to his property "but the timing is not proper because the elections are approaching and there is a pronounced intention to run for office."

Peña, however, said that with all due respect to the governor, he is just following his example when he ejected the squatters behind the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.

As to the governor's mention of timing, he said it would have been much harsher on his part if he had disposed of the squatters earlier.

A complaint for allegedly stealing the steel toll gate used as a stop signal at an hacienda road in Sitio Bagua, Brgy. Zone 4-A in Pulupandan, was also filed against Mayor Mondia, before the town police station.

Mondia denied stealing the tollgate, pointing out that he had turned it over to the police station.

Peña said Mondia returned the tollgate Monday to the place where it was taken from in the barangay road in Sitio Bagua.

Peña added that he is glad Mondia said the road in question has been has been used by residents for 40 years so he can charge back rentals.

During a command conference at the Capitol, Franco yesterday reiterated his order to the 31 police chiefs in Negros Occidental to remain neutral in the May elections.

He also called on politicians to engage in a peaceful and orderly campaign.*GPB

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