Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña said yesterday he left his 3-year-old son abroad to protect him from possible kidnap-for-ransom attempts and that they both had a happy celebration of the holidays.

He said the custody case of his son remains pending and he does not want to second-guess the decision of the court.

Peña, who went to the National Bureau of Investigation Bacolod office yesterday, also called premature the Supreme Court directive to the NBI to turn over custody of the child to his mother Marie Roxanne “Plinky” Recto.

He said he went to the NBI to see chief Mamerto Cortez because he was informed they were looking for him.

He added that nobody can compel him to turn over his son due to threats on the latter's security and safety after his face was flashed on national television on the prodding of Recto and her lawyer Evalyn Ursua.

With his son's life in danger, Peña said he had to leave him abroad where they had been after he left the country for official business to look for investors for his various projects in Pulupandan.

He reiterated that fighting for his son is fighting for equal rights of men in raising their children.

But while he refused to turn over his son to Recto right now, Peña said he wished that someday Recto will come to her senses and they can raise him together.

He said much money, time, and efforts have been wasted in the battle for his son's custody and the publicity that went with it has been tiresome.

As for his personal safety, Peña said he can handle himself and he is not afraid of anybody because God is with him.*NAB

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