Negros pols seek presidential help

MOISES PADILLA, Negros Occ. – Three mayoralty candidates in Central Negros Occidental are calling for presidential intervention to ensure peaceful elections in their areas.

In a joint press conference on May 5, 2019, Mayors Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan of La Castellana and Joselito Malabor of Isabela, and Vice Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo of Moises Padilla appealed to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to hear their plea and see for himself the real situation in their respective localities.

Malabor and Mangilimutan are seeking re-election while Yulo is running for mayor running against her uncle, incumbent Magdaleno Peña.

The three also denied charges by Peña that they are supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA). They turned the tables on Peña for allegedly hiring goons to intimidate and sow terror in their towns.

Mangilimutan said she could not be an NPA supporter as she is a former police officer while her husband is an active police colonel.

Yulo said she is not a supporter of the NPA and is not even siding either with the military or the rebels.

She added the people in the town are afraid of the NPA, the military, the police and Mayor Pena.

“I am siding with the people,” she added.

Malabor also denied that he is an NPA supporter saying that his office gives assistance to all those who seek his help.

The three claimed that Peña is tagging them as NPA supporters to turn the police and the military against them.

Malabor claimed that Peña is the alleged mastermind in the killing of his brother, former provincial board member Renato Malabor Sr.

Yulo, on the other hand, accused her uncle as the brains of the ambush on her convoy last April 25, 2019 that resulted  in the death of her brother Mark Garcia and their nephew, re-electionist Councilor Michael Garcia.

Peña has denied the accusations.

Mangilimutan said Peña allegely linked her family to illegal drugs which she also denied.

The three challenged Peña to show up and face the charges against him.

Yulo also asked the President to help them attain justice for the deaths of her relatives.