The Western Visayas police is waiting for the issuance of warrants of arrests for the suspects in the killing of Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia Jr. so manhunts can begin, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said yesterday.

“Our tracker teams are already in place,” de la Paz, WV operations chief, said.

On Friday last week, the police filed murder charges against 11 persons for the killing of Mondia before the Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office.

Mondia, who was running for mayor of Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, in the May polls against incumbent Magdaleno Peña, was gunned down near the Jaro Cathedral on Feb. 17.

Task Group Mondia of the Region 6 police charged Bernard Pacifico, Joebert Gumban, Premitivo Pacifico, Eusebio Poblacion, Ramy Enojo, Jerry Solido, alias Utong Laolao, and four John Does for the murder of the mayor.

A mastermind has yet to be identified.

SUPPORTER DIES

Meanwhile, former Kagawad Ronie Agustin, 49, of Barangay Zone, Pulupundan, and a supporter of Mondia died at a Bacolod hospital Sunday after suffering another stroke, Fr. Regener Dequina said yesterday.

Agustin was among the Pulupandan residents who had gone to the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City Friday to meet with Gov. Isidro Zayco.

He and the other Pulupandan residents, who had been evicted from their houses in their town, asked the governor to help them acquire a relocation site.

Agustin suffered a massive stroke while at the Governor’s Office and was brought to the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital and later underwent brain surgery, Dequina said.

The operation was a success, but on Sunday, Agustin suffered another stroke that led to his death, the priest added.

He said Agustin, like the other evicted Pulupandan residents had been under a lot of stress.

The Pulupandan residents are now staying in a secure place as they fear for their lives, Dequina added.

RELOCATION SITE

Gov. Isidro Zayco yesterday said Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) has agreed to give the P200,000 down payment for the  relocation site in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City, for the 32 evicted Pulupandan families.

The Pulupandan residents have agreed to pay the monthly succeeding payments for the property, the governor added.

DND BRIEFED

Meanwhile, Senior Supt. Manuel Felix, Negros Occidental police director, said in a press statement yesterday that he briefed Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales on the Pulupandan situation during his recent visit to Bacolod.

Felix discussed with the DND secretary various issues and concerns on the eviction of the Pulupandan townsfolk as well as the actions taken by the inter-agency group that earlier met to find ways to assist the displaced residents, the press release said.

He also briefed Gonzales on the peace and order situation in the town and the police preparations for the May 10 elections.*CPG

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