Marañon predicts Peña loses reelection

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. yesterday criticized Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña after the latter allegedly installed several tarpaulins around his town claiming the governor ordered an ambush against him.

In a statement forwarded by the governor, he said the claims suggest the mayor is in a “state of panic.”

He also speculated an “imminent rejection by the people of the town.”

In addition, Marañon accused Peña of terrorizing local residents.

“I cannot overemphasize that the mayor is enraged by the people’s strong support [for] his rival, Vice Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo, especially after the brutal murders of reelectionist Michael Garcia, his own grandson, and former ABC (Association of Barangay Captains) President Mark Garcia, his own nephew, which were all linked to him and his henchmen,” Marañon asserted.

He further stated, such “propaganda” has “no place in a decent society like ours,” adding, “It is also indicative of one’s mental state.”

“His allegations are certainly fabricated lies and can easily be debunked,” the governor insisted. “He is also out of touch from reality.”

“Despite his win in 2016, he is an absentee mayor,” Marañon added.

Earlier, Peña denied any involvement in the said ambush, claiming, the vice mayor’s family has a “history of killing each other,” pointing out an earlier incident involving the shooting of the now-slain former ABC official.

Meanwhile, incumbent Moises Padilla Municipal Councilor Agustin ‘Nene’ Grande III, who was also accused of involvement in the killings, said his name was likely mentioned as he had earlier filed murder charges against Garcia-Yulo over the 2016 killing of his brother, Magdaleno Grande.

“I have nothing to do with the Garcia killings as I do not hold any personal grudges against them,” Grande stated. “I do not need to put the law into my hands; I have already sought the proper remedy [by] filing a criminal complaint against her.”/DGB, WDJ