Mayor Luis Mondia yesterday said he is still pushing to have Pulupandan placed under COMELEC control even after police action was taken against security guards hired by landowner Magdaleno Peña who were caught carrying firearms outside their assigned areas, in alleged violation of the election gun ban.

He said the fact that the police had acted on the security guards now is no assurance that violence will not break out in his town during the election period. The Mondias and Peña are expected to battle against each other in the May elections.

Peña is seeking the eviction of 2,000 houses from what he said is property owned by his family. Recently Peña fenced off passageways in some areas, causing tension to rise in the town, Mondia had said.

Mondia had also complained that Peña has set up a "headquarters" in front of his (Mondia's) house and posted armed security guards there.

Peña, on the other hand, said Pulupandan is peaceful, contrary to Mondia's claims. "I would not tolerate violence in Pulupandan," the landowner said.

However, he said if Mondia insisted on placing the town under COMELEC control, it would be fine with him as that would mean the police would be under the poll body, and not Mondia.

He said Mondia had been asking for additional policemen so he decided to give the mayor security by posting 15 blue shirts in front of his house free of charge. "He (the mayor) should thank me for the free security I gave him," Peña said.

Peña also said the mayor can dump the 2,000 squatter houses he is evicting from Montilla property in Pulupandan into the 2,000-square meter Mondia compound.

Meanwhile, Gov. Joseph Marañon said Mondia and Peña should try to talk to each other about their concerns for the sake of peace in Pulupandan.*CPG

back to top