NEWS BRIEFS

Barangay bet gets death threat

A candidate for barangay captain Opao, Mandaue City asked the Commission on Election (Comelec) to include their area in the election watchlist following the death threat his family received last Tuesday morning.

Edgar Prada an incumbent councilman told told Anna Fleur Gujilde, election officer of the city that his wife Melyn received mail sent through a private courier containing four white candles, 12 mourning pins and a letter which partly reads: “Kamo ang nanguna. Wala man mo gihilabtan. Pagbantay mo sa balus. Condolence nalang daan.”

Gujilde said there’s still a need to assess the threat, which was endorsed to the City Intelligence Branch in Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO). But she is requesting the police for more police visibility./Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos

6 Lapu barangays get more policemen

Six Lapu-Lapu City barangays will be closely monitored by the police even if poll officials have not declared them as areas of concern.

According to Lapu-Lapu City Police Office director Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas they are closely watching barangays Punta Engaño, Basak, Pajo, Pusok, Agus and Pangan-an. Punta Engaño and Pagan-an, an island village have histories of election violence.

Lawas said over 500 security personnel composed of the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Navy will be deployed during the barangay elections./Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza

JVR accused of campaigning for 2 sons

A candidate for barangay captain yesterday accused Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes of campaigning for his two sons who are candidates in the barangay elections.

“He has been with his sons. We have the video which will show the mayor participating in the campaign sorties of his sons,” said Raul Cabanero, who is running for barangay captain of Bulacao, Talisay City.

Cabanero is running against Delos Reyes’ son, Clifford. The mayor’s other son, Johnny delos Reyes Jr., is running for barangay councilor.

“Can the Comelec do something about this? It seems that this poll office doesn’t implement the laws,” he said.

Ferdinand Gujilde of the Comelec provincial office reminded everyone that the barangay elections is non-partisan.

“I advise our incumbent officials to let the barangay elections take its course without their intervention,” Gujilde said./Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

Thousands troop to Pag-ibig for calamity loan

THOUSANDS of Pag-ibig Fund members flocked to the Cebu City office as early as 5 a.m. to apply for calamity loans.

Most of the applicants are from the province who left their homes as early as 3:00 am.

Anthony Maglunsod, assistant manager of Pag-ibig Fund Cebu South, said the influx of members applying for loans started last Monday right after Vice President Jejomar Binay, the chairman of Pag-ibig Fund, announced that funds are available for victims of the earthquake.

Cebu City and Cebu province have been declared under a state of calamity because of the Oct. 15 magnitude 7.2 earthquake./Correspondent Fe Marie D. Dumaboc