Estancia mayor's top aide clarifies conviction-yarn of boss
Malicious innuendos, black propaganda and unfair tirades.
Such summed up the sentiments of Roberto "Bert" Montilla, right-hand man of Estancia Mayor Restituto "Boy" Mosqueda and hundreds of Mosqueda die-hards on published ‘reports' regarding a purported Sandiganbayan conviction.
Saying great disservice is being done on the Estancia community and confusion unmercilessly stirred up here, Montilla in an interview told The News Today (TNT) it is time for them to stand up and have the truth told.
"More than ever, we take inspiration in these words of Edmund Burke – "For evil to triumph it is enough that good men do nothing," – so we are doing just that, do something," Montilla began.
Last week an item came out (not in TNT) disclosing of a supposed conviction of Mayor Mosqueda over grave abuse of authority charges. It was then hinted that the town vice mayor is set to take over with the mayor about to serve jail term.
"It disheartens me being a former media practitioner myself to see these happening and especially from supposedly reputable media partners. We are for freedom of the press, freedom of speech yet nowhere does it say in those granted freedoms that we spread lies and create an atmosphere of confusion. We are working hard for the development of Estancia in particular and the province of Iloilo in general. So it is sad how purposely the administration is unfairly attacked," Montilla continued.
Mosqueda, a retired Police Chief Superintendent, for his part sent a message to TNT to address the matter.
"I would like to categorically state that I have had several cases filed at the Ombudsman including "human rights violations" during my stint as a police officer all over the archipelago," Mayor Mosqueda said. "But all these were dismissed long before I became the mayor of Estancia."
And his supporters are upset, he added reason why he likewise opted to speak out.
"It is because of them and the people of Estancia that I am reacting and once again appeal for a well-researched, credible and balanced newspaper reporting… I hope too that Ilonggo journalism do not have to suffer because of a rotten few. But may God forgive them," Mayor Mosqueda said.