Lawmaker, Dawn get threats

MANILA, Philippines - Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo is asking authorities for protection for his family after allegedly receiving threats and being stalked by strangers.

In a letter written by lawyer Rudolf Philip Jurado to the National Bureau of Investigation, Lagdameo requested the agency’s “kind assistance in protecting (Lagdameo) and in uncovering the identity or identities of the person or persons behind these threats.”

Jurado told The STAR in a text message yesterday Lagdameo “campaigned for (Sen. Ferdinand) Marcos Jr.” as vice president.

The lawyer claimed Lagdameo received two text messages threatening him for election-related issues.

The first message was sent on May 14, saying, “Please tigilan na ng kuya mo ang ginagawa ninyong tulong. Nakamonitor na kayo simula pa pagpunta u ng Davao. Ung tao mo sa Cotabato pauwiin mo naren at baka madamay pa salamat. – GT.”

On the same day, an unknown man riding a gray Toyota Innova with no plate number was seen taking photos of Lagdameo’s son and daughter.

On May 26, Lagdameo received another text message that said, “Ang dakilang magaling na tao ni macoy, payong kapatid tigil mo na sobrang pakekelam mo at baka magsisi ka. Awatin mo din aso mo masyadong pakelamero kawawa kayo batman n robin.”

Jurado, in his letter, added that four people riding two motorcycles were asking the whereabouts and schedule of his wife, actress Dawn Zulueta, during a shooting for her movie in Laguna.

On June 22, an unidentified man tried to get hold of Lagdameo’s son as he was leaving school, but the boy’s security escorts foiled the attempt, Jurado said.

He added that Lagdameo’s household workers noticed that a vehicle was parked in front of the lawmaker’s house in Makati City.

“This matter now became a growing concern for our client since his work, and that of his wife, constrain them to be in front of, and near, the public, which would make them very easy targets should these threats be true, not to include their minor children who are mostly vulnerable while or when they are going to or from their schools,” the lawyer said.

Jurado also said in his text message that Lagdameo “thought (the threats) would stop after the elections or at least after the proclamation of (vice president-elect) Leni Robredo.”