Public officials who receive death threats are advised to take the necessary precaution and to gather as much information as possible before any case can be filed.
Philippine National Police provincial director Sr. Supt. Edward Carranza was guest in Wednesday’s monthly meeting of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Negros Oriental chapter, where he received a lot of information about illegal gambling, illegal drugs, including threats to the lives of some public officials.
Carranza informed the body that all these threats are still unfounded and hearsay unless evidence would warrant for the filing of cases in court.
Mayor Albert Ator of Siaton and Gov. Roel Degamo had earlier claimed having received death threats through text messages sent via mobile phones with unknown numbers.
The Governor, who was also present during the meeting, said Ator’s threat could be coming from the same person who threatened him.
From politicians to media practitioners, this time a 38-year old businessman and his wife received death threats through text messages.
The businessman, who is a known contractor and developer in Negros Oriental, reported to the Dumaguete police station on Wednesday that he received death threats through text messages.
Recorded in the police blotter at the city police station are text messages that demanded for the payment of reasonable wages and benefits to his workers, and that he will be shot along with his wife and family.
The same text sender claimed that the businessman will be the next to fall after Atty. Archer Martinez and also claimed that they were only paid to do the job in due time.
The intelligence division of the Dumaguete police station is now tracing the source of such text messages and other angles pertaining to the businessman’s profession. (PNA/JFP/Juancho Gallarde)