By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno ‘Magsie’ Peña, in an expletive-laden phone interview yesterday, vehemently denied he was behind a statement published in a local paper last week, in which he allegedly called the boycott of Coca-Cola as “stupidity,” and said he plans to file charges against the publication amounting to P20 million.
Peña said he was shocked to have read a recent story circulated by a local newspaper which made him appear as the “villain” among the sugar stakeholders in Negros Occidental. As a result, he further claimed receiving death threats from the New People’s Army (NPA).
“I’m afraid that because of their article, they are setting me up for another ambush,” he said.
The alleged statement read: “I want the governor and the sugar industry leaders to know especially the presidents of sugar federations that the municipalities of Pulupandan and Moises Padilla will not join the boycott of Coca-Cola for using high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as this is stupidity.” It continued, “The presidents of the federations should put their acts together and sit down with the cola industry and discuss the problems amicably. You cannot oblige one industry to subsidize another industry, that’s stupidity.”
Peña stressed that as a scion of Agustin Montilla, one of the pioneers of the sugar industry on Negros island, he could not possibly betray that legacy. “It’s not only a political sabotage, but also a personal one, because my friends and family are furious at me,” he said.
When asked if he has an idea where the circulated statement originated, Peña suspects it may have came from either his political opponents, drug lords, and alleged narco cops which were recently transferred out of the province.
Peña also stated the local paper neither issued an apology nor published the statement he released explaining his innocence.
He also slammed the publication of being part of the “yellow media,” implying its owners and gatekeepers are supportive of the opposition Liberal Party.
Meanwhile, Peña stated that he and his son, Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Peña, have already declared a total ban on all Coca-Cola products in their respective municipalities.
However, he stated it would only be a nominal aid to the sugar stakeholders, and added his friend Unifed President Manolet Lamata should have “smashed” the can of Coke against the heads of those responsible of bringing HFCS into the market.
He said he is planning to sit down with Lamata in order to find a solution on further helping the sugar industry./WDJ