Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña yesterday assured that he will broker the withdrawal of charges against most of the 187 residents accused by five of his supporters of committing alleged grave threats for humanitarian reasons.

But he said he will not broker the release of 25 "hard core" supporters of his political opponent Samson Mondia, including four barangay captains, two of whom are among the 47 accused who are detained at the Pulupandan police jail.

Peña reiterated the assurance yesterday after a meeting with Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, Negros Occidental police director, and Jose Ma. Valencia, chief of staff of Gov. Joseph Marañon at the Capitol in Bacolod City.

We had very positive results, Franco said of his meeting with Peña. Weeping members of those detained at a press conference in Bacolod Tuesday appealed to Peña to help put an end to their ordeal.

They said their children have been traumatized and have stopped going to school. Some have fallen ill and they are at their wits' end on what to do, they also said.

Among the Pulupandan barangay captains currently detained at the Pulupandan jail are barangay captains Lowell del Carmen of Barangay 6, and Cristina Malunes of Zone 3.

Renato Dioso of Zone 4 posted bail and Doroteo Vellejo, head of Barangay Canjusa, have not surrendered.

Dr. Luisa Efren, Provincial health Officer, yesterday said her office is checking on the situation at the Pulupandan jail to prevent any outbreak of diseases because of congestion.

The jail that now has 48 inmates only has ideal space for 15.

Judge Manuel Limsiaco of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Valladolid-San Enrique-Pulupandan has issued five warrants of arrest against the 187 based on five grave threats complaints for the same offense.

Five Peña supporters filed the complaints against the accused for allegedly throwing stones, hard objects and pillboxes, and firing guns at the house of Councilor Hedy Gonzales while they and 21 others were inside.

Peña said one of the five complainants, Boy Gavine, was one of his two companions killed when an ambush was staged against him in Pulupandan on May 30. In the five warrants of arrest issued by Limsiaco he set bail at P6,000 for each of the accused for each case, or a total of P30,000.

Samson Mondia raised bail for the first warrant for Criminal Case 07-044-P, but with the four other warrants pending the accused need to raise P24,000 each or remain in jail.

Peña said he will have to ask the complainants to withdraw the charges in court since he has no personality to do so himself.

Peña reiterated that the police only arrested three of the 48 Pulupandan residents in jail on Thursday last week and said it was Elda Mondia, wife of Samson Mondia, who caused the surrender of the rest on Saturday.

Limsiaco on May 15 released the accused to Mrs. Mondia and former Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia on recognizance, and when he recalled their release he ordered the two on June 22 to again surrender them to the police or face contempt of court.

Peña said the accused could be released from jail immediately if the Mondias put up their bonds.

Meanwhile, Fr. Regner Dequiña reacting to the comment of Peña on the Church helping the jailed Pulupandan residents but not being around when his 26 supporters were arrested, said it is the obligation of the Church to help those who seek its help.

He said Peña's supporters did not come to the Church for help.

Why does he feel bad that we are helping the people when in fact he is the mayor of these people and should be the one, in the first place, who should pity and help them? Dequiña asked.*CPG

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