Pols want Estancia placed under Comelec control
The political fever in Estancia, Iloilo heats up anew after a grenade throwing incident at the property of mayoralty candidate Rene Cordero over the weekend.
As such, both the political camps of incumbent Mayor Restitudo Mosqueda and Cordero are in favor of placing the town under the control of Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“If they want to place Estancia under Comelec control, it’s okay. I would call their bluff if that’s what they want. I’m amenable but let’s first examine the elements of Comelec control,” Mosqueda said.
On the other hand, Cordero’s camp also called for the relief of Senior Insp. Dwight Fonte as the town’s police chief. Cordero claimed that Fonte is biased against them.
The grenade did not explode in Cordero’s house but dashed through the cemented fence, just outside the guardhouse where Cordero’s two police security details were sleeping.
No one was hurt in the incident. It just bore hole at the canal.
Based on the recoveries, the explosive could be an MK2 fragmentation grenade.
While most people were happy that the incident did not cause much damage, it left investigators with a lot of puzzle to piece together.
In fact, Senior Insp. Fonte, Jr. is not discounting the possibility that the culprits could be just making a scenario.
“We are looking at all angles but presently, we are studying two theories – whether may nag set-up to explode or if it was intentionally done,” he claimed.
But Cordero’s camp clarified that it did not go beyond the concrete fence since it first battered the electrical line.
Cordero’s supporters also claimed that they have no suspects other than the camp of re-electionist Mosqueda.
They claimed that what happened is part of the series of harassment done by Mosqueda’s camp.
The daily harassment allegedly started April 21 until the grenade throwing incident happened.
With what happened, Cordero also appealed to the Comelec and the PNP to give immediate action on what happened.
Meanwhile, Mosqueda, a retired police general, is also one with the observation of the Estancia PNP that the incident could just be a part of intentional.
“I have a hunch that it is a self-made creation… A drama just to portray that Estancia is in trouble,” he said.
For now, he ordered for the immediate investigation of the incident.
Meanwhile, when asked about the new call for his relief, Fonte claimed that he would gladly vacate his post if there is an official order.
“Sa akin po trabaho lang, wherever na ma-assign ako, pulis pa rin po ako and I’m willing to perform my duty wherever I will be assigned,” he added.
