Estancia’s mayoralty victor, loser trade barbs anew
The election is over.
But it looks like the word war between mayor-elect Rene Cordero and outgoing Mayor Restituto Mosqueda of Estancia, Iloilo is far from being over.
Mosqueda was apparently indignant over reports that he hatched plans to destroy the municipal hall following his defeat in his re-election bid.
Some allegations claimed that the former mayor will have the town hall burned down.
Mosqueda, a retired police general, lost to Cordero by more than a thousand votes.
In the 2007 polls, it was Cordero, then the incumbent mayor, who lost to political newbie Mosqueda.
But the losing reelectionist said that he would turn-over the authority to Cordero in a civil, lawful, and professional way.
In fact, Mosqueda claimed that he already started conducting inventory of properties that need to be turned over to the Cordero administration.
As such, he stressed that it’s quite farfetched that he would order for torching a government infrastructure.
Mosqueda also told Cordero to focus on the works ahead, instead of doing some demolition job.
He cited that when he won in the 2007 polls, he extended his hands of reconciliation to his political opponents.
There would be a smooth transition, he added.
“There is a transition government initiated by the DILG, basi wala siya ka-intiende kay wala man siya nagabasa, and conduct of inventory of all equipment and other resources of the municipal government,” he stated.
Mosqueda also brushed aside allegations that they would cover up alleged corruptions during his term.
After all that he’s been said and done, the outgoing mayor said that he doesn’t want to indulge in a debate with Cordero, whom he claimed he respected.
But Mosqueda’s statement also met a retort from Cordero.
The mayor-elect claimed that he is not accusing Mosqueda.
In fact, Cordero claimed that the report did not come from him but from the people of Estancia.
“Ako ‘ya ang hambal ko sa mga tawo, bantay kamo da eh,” he said.
‘Animal’ war
Aside from the “burning” issue, Mosqueda also figured in a verbal tussle with Cordero after accusing the latter’s allies of killing animals at the town’s mini-zoo located in front of the municipal hall.
He said that Cordero could not control his own people because there is a more powerful hand that control the mayor-elect.
“It would not come from us. We are very professional in dealing with this. Lantawon ta lang galing sa pag-abot sang ila administrasyon. He is not in control. There are so many people who will dictate and there would be intervention from all walks of life,” he added.
But Cordero vehemently denied the accusations that his men dressed some peacocks in the min-zoo.
He added that it is also not true that he is keeping goons because if he is, they should have been arrested during the elections.
