BACOLOD CITY (PNA) – A vice mayoral bet of the municipality of Pulupandan in Negros Occidental has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to take control of the town during the May 10 elections.

Gina Mondia Villanueva, younger sister of slain Luis Mondia Jr, who was killed last March, is running as an independent vice mayoral candidate.

She was supposed to run in tandem with his elder brother, who had been seeking the Pulupandan mayoralty post when he was gunned down outside the Jaro Cathedral in Iloilo City.

Villanueva said that fear, harassment and intimidation allegedly perpetuated by supporters identified with the camp of incumbent Mayor Magdaleno Peña, continue to prevail in the town. Peña is seeking reelection on May 10.

The Mondia family believed that the assassination, which remains unresolved, has something to do with politics in Pulupandan.

Villanueva said she received a letter signed by Mayor Peña informing her that he was filing a case against her although there was no mention as to the nature of the case.

Villanueva said she hoped that Comelec would grant her request so that the atmosphere of fear would be lifted and fair elections can take place in Pulupandan.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Iloilo City has expressed its readiness to assist Comelec in the May 10 polls.

PCG Western Visayas Commander, Commodore William Melad said the PCG is on heightened alert as election day nears. All its personnel are prepared to augment security preparations, especially where it concerns the transfer of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS), ballots and poll body representatives.

The PCG, said Melad, is willing to assist in the transport of said machines and ballots and other election materials to various island municipalities all over the region. Most islands with precincts are in the province of Antique, he said.

According to the PCG official, they are awaiting a request from the Comelec office on the matter so that they can respond on time.

Likewise, as part of its heightened security measure, the PCG has sent K-9 sniffing units in various regional ports.

Melad said eight K-9s are already stationed in the ports of Bacolod City, Dumangas, Iloilo, Iloilo City and Caticlan, Aklan.

These ports are being prioritized since they serve as entry and exit points for the transfer of PCOS machines to various voting centers in the region, said Melad.