Politics heat up as retired cop charges mayor of 'designing' shooting of aide, councilor
One big set-up aimed at getting the people's sympathy.
This was the simple "analysis" of retired Police General Restituto Mosqueda, contender for next year's mayoralty seat in Estancia, Iloilo following last week's shooting incident involving a top mayor's aide and a town councilor.
With said retired cop and his men as the purported culprits, "General Mosqueda" as he is popularly known in the district came out Saturday to deny the report over Bombo Radyo's Rodell Fullon. He also used the opportunity to lash back at his accuser, Mayor Rene Cordero, saying the charges are "libelous, unfounded, brazen lies and baseless."
And the General was just warming up as he went on to challenge Cordero to file charges in Court where he vowed to face-up with Estancia's chief executive.
"What am I going to gain by shooting them? They are of no value to me," the Mosqueda said as he went on to question the circumstances supposedly surrounding that of a planned assassination on Arnie Pullan and Councilor Butch Cordero.
If it was a real attack and supposedly done in close range, Mosqueda pointed out, why then the opportunity for the duo to escape?
"Yet I condemn the incident in the strongest term possible," he added. "And if this is not a drama, then the mayor should have lead the investigation, find the gunman and discover the motive."
What the alleged shooting has done, the Mosqueda continued, was to "unravel the incompetence of Mr. Cordero and an indication of the peace and order problem in Estancia."
Mosqueda also went on to hit the mayor tagging him as a "congenital liar" employing "squid tactics true to what a traditional politician is."
"Yes, I am running against him in the next elections and I go to Estancia to 'sell' myself as I seek the mandate of the people," he said.
As for the 'goons issue,' Mosqueda said all of his bodyguards are legitimate security men unlike the mayor's.
"I am a retired police general and I am entitled to my security personnel. We are all carrying permits for our weapons," he added.
Mosqueda further disclosed unresolved killings in Estancia saying the past unsolved crimes here have posed a deterrent to the town's development.