Tension has again gripped residents of Pulupandan town, following conflicting reports of indiscriminate firing on Thursday night, two hours before the start of the election period.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, yesterday confirmed having received reports of illegal discharge of firearms at the town poblacion by a still unidentified person, on Thursday.

Franco, however, debunked reports that there was a shoot-out.

Provincial Comelec supervisor Jessie Suarez, who went to Pulupandan at about 2 a.m. yesterday, said the incident was not related to politics. But he admitted that they are closely monitoring Pulupandan.

Artem Miravalles and Eduardo Rivera alleged that a certain Rogelio Montero who carried a shotgun, fired three times in front of a guard house they occupied in Brgy.Canjusa, Pulupandan, at about 10 p.m. of March 29.

On the other hand, Montero claimed in an interview with Aksyon Radyo that a certain Jolly Pancho, accompanied by a certain Amacio, fired his shotgun five times in front of his house in Brgy. Tapong, Pulupandan, on the same night.

His neighbor, Romeo Arguelles, was almost hit during the illegal discharge, Montero added.

Before the incident, Kim Amacio, watchman of mayoralty candidate Magdaleno Peña, also reported to the police that they were threatened with a "roma stick" by Montero and his companions, in Brgy. Tapong, Pulupandan on March 28.

The Pulupandan mayoralty position is being contested by Peña and Samson Mondia, brother of Mayor Luis Mondia.

Franco said the signing of peace covenants among candidates, especially in hotly-contested areas of Negros Occidental, may start in Pulupandan next week.

This will be a joint activity of the Commission on Election and the series of signing of peace covenants will be witnessed by representatives of the religious sector, academe and even the media, he added.

Suarez said they will consider Pulupandan as an election area of concern.

Before the filing of certificates of candidacy by local candidates, the police had already classified Pulupandan as an area of concern because of sightings of armed men, and an indication of intense political rivalries.

Last month, town residents clashed with alleged men of Peña who set up barricades that blocked their passageways.*GPB

back to top