Estancia 'peace talks' fail
Friday's peace talks initiated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the hotly contested town of Estancia failed to get any positive commitment from two of principal figures in the forthcoming elections.
With some four Comelec provincial officials present headed by acting Comelec Provincial Director Elizabeth Doronilla, all that was realized from Mayor Rene Cordero and retired Police Chief Superintendent Restituto Mosqueda was the hand shake at the start of the meeting.
In a report, The News Today (TNT) learned that barely had the formal talk began, tension erupted when Gus Bacabac, close aide of the Mayor, tried to witness the meeting. Bacabac was apparently refused entry in the room that got him to comment, "If Mrs. Mosqueda is in, then I will insist the same."
The former PNP General apparently heard Bacabac and in a raised voice reportedly yelled back, "Now you started it!" referring to the supposed move from the mayor's camp to cause yet renewed animosity.
A uniformed police who served as the Comelec's security pacified the two.
The meeting heard Doronilla issue an appeal to both parties for sobriety and peace.
Mayor Cordero in a chance interview told TNT that nothing was firmed up nor resolved that afternoon and that no agreements were also signed either by him nor his opponent.
"And I don't trust him," the mayor quipped when pressed further for reaction while acknowledging that since the entry of Mosqueda in Estancia, the 'atmosphere' has changed throughout the town.
This, Cordero explained could be felt particularly in public places and at night amidst talks of armed men in town to sow fear and terror.
In fact, the mayor revealed, hours after the peace talks panic set in around the town public market as information was leaked of a supposed arsonist ordered to burn down the market Friday evening.
Police were deployed to secure the place as checkpoints were set up anew and the help of the Regional Mobile Group (RMG), a team of elite police operatives were sought.
Local traders packed up early while a number opted to secure belongings.
A town source said television sets of stall owners inside the town market were carried outside the premises alongside boxes and sacks of dry goods.
The situation is not altogether good, Mayor Cordero continued, reason why he is welcoming the plan to have Estancia under Comelec control.
"I would want that. If that will keep the armed men away from us and secure the people, then so be it," he said.
As for the infamous March 11 incident reported to be a failed assassination plot on the retired General, Mayor Cordero expressed surprise saying people are one in believing the attempt was on him and not his political opponent.
"Ako ya ang gin-attempt. Indi nga baliskadon niya pa (The attempt was on me and not the other way around)," he ended.
To recall, Mosqueda in a press conference last week disclosed the charges filed against Cordero and three suspects said to be bodyguards and close aides of the mayor.
Mosqueda decried what he said was lack of police action and intervention that almost took his life after hearing Church services that Sunday.
Both camps has since sought police security as charges and counter-charges were thrown to discredit each other.