Ex-PNP general files string of raps vs Estancia mayor
Retired General Restituto "Boy" Mosqueda (center)
with his lawyer Salvador Panelo (left) and
supporter Edgar Chu during a press conference
yesterday.
The continued row in the Municipality of Estancia has now officially elevated from a media word war into a legal battle with retired Police General Restituto "Boy" Mosqueda taking the offensive.
This, as charges after charges were filed by the former general against his forthcoming political opponent, Estancia Mayor Rene Cordero and at least three of the mayor's bodyguards.
As such, Mayor Cordero now stands as respondent in a P2.5 million libel suit which stemmed from media interviews made that tagged Mosqueda as the supposed mastermind of an ambush months back.
Corresponding civil and administrative cases were also filed against the mayor which Mosqueda counsels, lawyers Melchor Bonilla and Salvador Panelo acknowledged will serve as basis for disqualification charges against Cordero.
Separate cases were furthered filed by the former general against Cordero aides, Jose Marie Cabayao alias "Jojo Porras," an alias Genis Cabale and an alias "Diokno Buaron."
The trio stands charged with attempted murder raps, illegal possession of firearms, Comelec gun ban violation and alarm and scandal relative to the infamous March 11 church shooting incident in Estancia.
In a press conference yesterday, Mosqueda with counsels addressed the issue while vowing to effect change and progress in said northern Iloilo town.
"This is my last hurrah," Mosqueda said on his planned entry into politics after serving 34 years in the police service.
And he is bent on effecting much-needed change, he added, saying he is against graft and corruption, against violence and organized crime. Interestingly enough, same issues hound the former general used by his opponents to discredit him this early part of the election period.
The Mosqueda camp in a prepared statement touched on the March 11th incident stating that such "shows the current realities of the impending political violence ready to be unleashed..."
The attempt on the general's life, the statement continued, "only shows that the good tide of change is imminent and the forces of evil is sowing terror in the desperate attempt to preserve its dark absolute hold on power."
A challenge was then issued by Mosqueda to authorities "to prove beyond reasonable doubt and without bias to arrest the mastermind and perpetrators of the March 11 incident."
This, as he also vowed to file administrative charges versus Estancia Police Chief, Senior Inspector Ramir Gallardo Sr. for police actions that Mosqueda said, even helped create a plot and scenario of fear. Mosqueda also wants more from Senior Inspector Gallardo particularly "to perform as mandated by law."
Asked on why the heated electoral bout in Estancia, Mosqueda averred that such could be the effect of the overwhelming support of 'big' families in said town and the purported change of allegiance of at least four incumbent councilors who were former allies of Cordero but have now vowed to join his camp.