'We submit to any Comelec decision,' Mosqueda says as 'peace talk' hangs in Estancia
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will pursue a peace covenant in the Municipality of Estancia as the mayorship remains hotly contested even before any formal filing of candidacy is made.
With extra police forces sent to beef up security in this northern Iloilo town, supporters of re-electionist Mayor Rene Cordero and his challenger, former police official Restituto "Boy" Mosqueda will be closely watched if only to avert any untoward incident.
With the Comelec peace covenant pursued, Mosqueda beat his forthcoming opponent to an expression of readiness and willingness vowing that his camp will submit to any Comelec action and decision.
In a radio interview yesterday, Mosqueda said his principal focus on his mayoralty bid is to effect change in Estancia.
Change, he explained, that will bring development and progress "but this will have to be realized with an improved peace and order situation there."
Repeatedly, Mosqueda said his camp is "most willing" to cooperate and work around the Comelec's take on the Estancia situation.
The former police official was also asked on the latest scare in his hometown caused by the fire that razed the building used to be owned by the Rural Bank of Estancia.
"I hope that our authorities can solve this matter and find out what really happened. It is sad to note that insinuations are made and blamed on our camp. I am personally saddened by this incident because it has again caused further damage to the name of Estancia and more so, sowed fear and more tension to our people," Mosqueda said.
Estancia is eyed to be under Comelec control following series of incidents that raised concern of authorities here.
Mosqueda for his part encourages change in governance while Cordero in an earlier TNT interview said he wants to continue the good works he has started if only to have Estancia progress even more.
In the course of the duo's early 'campaign,' talks of armed men from both camps have caught the attention of the Comelec heightened by the March 11 incident where three of the mayor's bodyguards stand accused of attempted murder, alarm and scandal, illegal possession of firearms and violation on the Comelec's gun ban.