Houses of Tarlac town’s two mayoral contenders strafed

STA. IGNACIA, Tarlac — This rebel-infested town seems to be becoming the "hottest election spot" as unidentified men strafed the houses of two mayoral contenders here Monday night.

Police investigators could not yet determine whose house was shot at first, although no one was reported injured or killed in both incidents.

This town’s mayorship is being hotly contested by re-electionist Mayor Reynaldo Modomo of the local pro-Estrada party, Sama-Sama sa Tarlac-Nationalist People’s Coalition (SST-NPC), and former mayor Noel Antonio of the People Power Coalition-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (PPC-Kampi).

Early last week, Modomo and Antonio, along with their political supporters, nearly came to blows after a heated argument on the use of a campaign rally site.

Modomo insisted that he had secured a rally permit from his own office, while Antonio claimed that he got his rally permit from a barangay chairman.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is "closely monitoring" this town not only because of the tight fight between Modomo and Antonio, but also due to the extent of influence of the communist-led New People’s Army among the villagers.

Just a few months before the start of the official campaign period, a platoon of NPA rebels clashed with policemen and soldiers here, leaving 14 insurgents dead.

Among the casualties were ranking provincial officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA, including Nelson Mesina, alias Ka Dondie, who was suspected to be the rebels’ provincial commander.

Aside from this town, the Comelec is also monitoring the political developments in Tarlac City and in the towns of Moncada, Concepcion and La Paz. This home-province of former President Corazon Aquino has been tagged as a "potential election hot spot."

In Tarlac City, the mayoral and vice mayoral positions are being heatedly contested by prominent personalities belonging to wealthy and influential families.

Running for city mayor are councilor Arsenio Lugay II (PPC-Liberal Party), Vice Mayor Ponciano Noel Soliman III (SST-NPC), board member Joji David (Laban-Third Force) and independent candidates former vice mayor Genaro Mendoza and Filoteo Gozum.

The vice mayoral position, on the other hand, is being hotly contested by councilors Rivo Nisce (PPC-LP), Miguel Tañedo (Laban-Third Force) and Sherwin Rigor (SST-NPC).