PRO-6: No Comelec control for Pulupandan
As far as the “honest evaluation” of the peace and order situation, the Police Regional Office (PRO) VI is not inclined to recommend Pulupandan town in Negros Occidental to be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas said that their assessment revealed that Pulupandan is generally peaceful.
“There are no reports of crime being perpetrated by persons in that area,” he added.
The region’s top cop said that they have not received report of any untoward incident.
To note, PRO-6 earlier mulled to recommend placing Pulupandan town under Comelec control following the killing of former mayor and mayoralty candidate Luis Mondia, Jr.
It was believed that guns-for-hire killed Mondia after attending an Ash Wednesday mass together with his wife and granddaughter at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral at M. Jalandoni St., Brgy. Seminario, Jaro.
But Cuevas said that they would come up with the said recommendation only after an honest evaluation of the true political situation in the area.
Even earlier, Pulupandan was also named as an election watchlist of areas of concern.
Meanwhile, Cuevas assured that they would validate information of the alleged harassment of sympathizers of Mondia.
“However, we have to have basis for our investigation. So, far we received no complaint or official report on that,” he added.
A few days back, Mondia’s body was already brought to Bacolod City.
But his family opted to have the wake at Bacolod City, instead of holding it at Pulupandan town.
Several reports claimed that some sympathizers were forced to go back to their home on their way to Bacolod port because they were allegedly harassed by those individuals identified with incumbent Mayor Magdaleno Peña.
“We could not say if it’s true or not. If that report is true, we could have our units in the area to validate it,” Cuevas said.
However, the regional PNP chief is not also discounting the possibility that there are just people who want to sow intrigues or would opt to see trouble in Pulupandan.
