City cops check on possible Sayyaf relatives

CEBU City police are looking into written death threats sent to Mayor Michael Rama, including one letter that mentioned bombing City Hall with the help of the Abu Sayyaf.

Policemen are looking into the profiles of possible relatives of any Abu Sayyaf members staying in the city, said Chief Insp. Romeo Santander of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB).

The profiling is a standard security measure, he said.

He said that they were also coordinating with the Office of Muslim Affairs in Central Visayas on the investigation and that Cebu City police chief Melvin Buenafe was taking the matter seriously.

Mayor Rama said he didn’t want to make a fuss over the letters and just passed them on to his security office.

Asked if he has asked for additional security detail, Rama waved off the matter, saying one bodyguard was enough.

The threats were made by parties urging the mayor to stop the demolition of illegal structures near creeks.

Meanwhile, police rushed to the GMA 7 complex in Busay, Cebu City after receiving a call on the police hotline that broadcaster Bobby Nalzaro was shot dead.

The call turned out to be a hoax. Nalzaro was in the announcer’s booth, alive and well, when police arrived.

Santander said that they sent teams to GMA-7 after receiving a call from a certain Ricky Galon.

Police are trying to identify who Galon is and plan to charge him in court for public disturbance. Correspondent Chito O. Aragon