Businessman Samson Mondia has filed an administrative case for grave misconduct and grave oppression before the Office of the Ombudsman for Visayas and a criminal complaint for libel before the Negros Occidental Prosecutor’s Office against Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña and 20 barangay captains.

Named respondents along with Peña are barangay captains Lissa Marie Bantigue, Ericson Cepida, Tino Estares, Hernaldo Era, Wilfreo Servania, Jimmy Polido, Cynthia Barrato, Allan Jacildo, Gilnor Desengano. Francisco Dorepes Jr., Johnald Juaneza, Ronnie Moreno, Romulo Campantero, Rosal Ortega, Jonah Jarlata, John Ordaniel, Erna Tortocion, Ramil Tenero, Ramon Tandoy and Roberto Valenzuela.

Mondia filed the complaint in reaction to a letter sent by the barangay captains to Oscar Sevilla, general manager of the PPA, asking him to cancel the contract of the Integrated Stevedoring and Arrastre Corp.

Mondia, who ran for mayor against Peña in the 2007 polls, said he and the members of the Mondia family are the majority stockholders of the ISACOR operating in the port of Pulupandan.

The barangay captains wrote Sevilla that canceling the contract would be in the best interest not only of Pulupandan but of the province considering that the Mondia family is a known supporter of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.

Mondia said that on Feb. 4, 2008, Peña and the barangay captains with the intent of causing dishonor and contempt against him and his family caused the publication of a letter to Sevilla, in the DAILY STAR newspaper and website.

Mondia asked the Ombudsman to suspend Peña and the barangay captains pending investigation of his complaint, and after determination of the facts that they be dismissed from office.

Peña, when asked for his reaction on the filing of complaints against him and the barangay captains, asked “Is that supposed to scare me?”

The defense of libel is the truth and everybody knows they provide financial support to the NPA, Peña claimed.

“I am also studying the filing rebellion charges against Samson Mondia,” Peña said, insisting that Martin Mata, an alleged NPA leader had  been employed by Mondia.

Mondia has denied having hired Mata to work for him.

Peña also said he cannot be oppressing Mondia as the businessman  does not even go to Pulupandan anymore.

The sending of the letter with untruthful and malicious statements against the Mondias to Sevilla by the barangay captains who are not parties to the management contract between ISACOR and PPA, and causing its publication were meant to cause me dishonor, discredit and contempt in the eyes of the public,  Mondia said in his complaints.

The letter was also designed to hamper, stop our business and economically cripple us, he said.

Mondia in his complaint said ISACOR and the Mondia family have maintained their good names and reputation before the PPA and the public by religiously complying with their duties and obligations under the law.

The barangay captains, on the instigation of the mayor, intentionally disregarded the fact that the cases filed by Peña against some members of the Mondia family for his ambush last year are still pending before the Provincial Prosecutors Office, where not a single evidence has been shown to prove their complicity, Mondia said.

The NPA has admitted responsibility for the ambush that caused the injury of Peña and the death of two of his companions in Pulupandan on May 30, 2007.

Various police investigation reports made immediately after May 20, 2007, never mentioned any names of the Mondia family but simply identified persons in their early 20s, an age bracket where none of the Mondia respondents belong, Mondia pointed out.*CPG

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