TWO candidates in Lapu-Lapu City received death threats and one bullet each last week, prompting them to repeat a call to place the city in a watch list of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
City Councilor Junard Chan, who is running for mayor under the Nationalist People’s Coalition, and his ally, Canjulao Barangay Captain Rufo Bering, reported the threats to Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Director Mariano Natuel.
Chan said his security guard at home received the bullet, sealed inside a white envelope, at 11:15 a.m. Friday.
It was also around this time that Bering received the same kind of bullet in his house. Bering is running for the city council.
A man on a motorcycle reportedly delivered the envelope and told Chan’s security guard it was a solicitation letter. The security guard described the man as in his early 20s and about 5’6.”
Bering personally received the envelope intended for him.
On Thursday night, Chan told Sun.Star Cebu, he received two text messages from an unregistered number warning him to stop his candidacy or his children will be killed.
“Kon di ka moatras sa imong kandidatura, among pamatyon imong mga anak,” Chan said, quoting the message he received at 8:30 p.m.
Chan said he replied by asking the sender to spare his children and focus on him instead.
“Basta di ka magmahay sa among pagabuhaton nimo,” was the reply.
Chan said he tried calling the number, but no one took the call.
He reiterated his appeal to the Comelec to place Lapu-Lapu City in its watch list.
He cited an “intense” political rivalry, the reported presence of armed men in the island of Olango and the shooting last Dec. 31 that killed his political leader Allan Berame in Barangay Calawisan.
Last Jan. 30, a supporter of Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza, identified as Nicasio S. Pogoy, 30, was also gunned down in the island barangay of Pangan-an.
Chan said he also asked Senior Supt. Natuel if the police can provide him with one police security escort.
He said he already told Natuel about who believes sent him the death threat and the bullet.
“Kon dunay mahitabo nako, kahibawo si Col. Natuel kinsay imbestigaron (If something happens to me, Natuel will know whom to investigate),” he said.
Natuel, in a separate interview, said a team has been assigned to investigate the threats Chan and Bering received.
Natuel confirmed Chan asked if he could be given a police escort but the police official said it is no longer possible because there is a process that should be followed.
With only a week before the elections, Natuel said, it is too late to apply for a security escort.
As for placing Lapu-Lapu in a Comelec watch list, Natuel said, there is no basis to do so just yet.
He said the two shooting incidents that victimized the supporters of Chan and Radaza were not election-related cases.
Natuel said based on the investigations they conducted, the killings were triggered by personal grudges.