Cops secure Mondia kin
as remains arrive today
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Police security is being provided to the Mondia family who are bringing the remains of slain former Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia Jr. from Iloilo to Bacolod City this afternoon, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, WV police operations chief, said yesterday.

De la Paz said the Mondia family informed him that the remains of the former mayor will lie in state at the Rolling Hills Memorial Chapels in Bacolod City instead of Pulupandan, and that he will be buried at the Sanctuario de Bacolod in Barangay Alijis on Feb. 28.

The police will provide security to the Mondia family throughout the wake and funeral, and until necessary, he said.

“I do not feel alluded to, my conscience is clear, I have nothing to do with Mondia’s death”, Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña said in a press release yesterday.

Peña said he had no hand in the killing of his political opponent, former Mayor Luis Mondia Jr. who was shot near the Jaro Cathedral in Iloilo City on Feb. 17.

He finds it prudent to give his side on the speculations of the bereaved family that he may be behind the killing that they believe is politically motivated, the Peña press release said.

Businessman Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, who is running for congressman of third district of Negros Occidental, last night said he is filing  a criminal case for perjury  against Victorias mayoral candidate Benito Montinola Jr. for making a “mockery of the election process.”

Benitez said he is filing  the case  against Montinola  for “lying under oath” in connection with a petition for disqualification earlier supposedly filed against  him by Felizardo Lira.

 “It’s the proper thing to do, considering that Boy Montinola is making  a mockery of our election process, he thinks he can just manipulate petitions, disqualifications and make some sort of political harassment and get away with it,” Benitez said.