Town residents and 30 alleged men of businessman Magdaleno Peña clashed yesterday over the attempt to set up in Brgy. Zone 4, Pulupandan.

Zone 4 barangay chairman Renato Dioso said the 30 men led by former Mayor Antotnio Suatengco set up the barricades, that blocked the passageways in Brgy. Zone 4 leading to Brgy. Canjusa, Pulupandan.

Dioso, said tension rose after barangay residents stopped the 30 men from setting up the barricades, and this led to a commotion later. Arlan Dagohoy reported to the Pulupandan police that he was hit in the back with water pipe by a certain Donato Dioso, Police Officer 1 Edsel Carballo said.

Brgy. Capt. Dioso claimed it was the people of Pena who started throwing stones at the barangay residents who tried to stop them from putting up the barricades along the barangay road.

Carballo said the tension eased when the two parties backed off.

On Sunday, tension also rose as about 300 angry town residents removed barricades made of barbed wire along the passageways in Brgy. Zone 1 Pulupandan.

Peña has sent notices of eviction for the removal of 2,000 houses in Pulupandan that, he said, are squatting on his and his family's property.

Policemen confiscated 14 firearms from security guards hired by Pena, who had been dispatched outside their duty area in Brgy, Ubay, Pulupandan, on Feb.. 26.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, said the management of MGE Cornerstone Agency and 12 security guards committed a violation by transporting firearms, without permits from the Commission on Elections.

The Mondia and Peña families are contesting the Pulupandan mayoralty race in the May 14 elections.*GPB

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