PNP tighten security on mayor with death threats, “drug links”

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A female town mayor in Negros Occidental — who her detractors tried to link her and her brother-councilor to "narco- politics," is no longer taking chances of her security, with death threats she had received for two years now.

La Castellana town Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said the latest death threats she received through a text message was on July 6, when she was told that she could be next to Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili of Batangas and General Tinio Mayor Ferdinand Bote of Nueva Ecija to be killed.

Mangilimutan disclosed that there are repeated attempts to link her and her brother, La Castellana Councilor White Nicor, to narco-politics, by somebody, whom she did not identify.

“If we are included in the list and classified as high value targets, we should have been target of the operations even before,” she said, as she merely dismissed the accusations as plain and simple harassments.

“I believe that majority of the people of La Castellana knew who we are,” said Mangilimutan, who succeeded her father as the town mayor. Her brother Nicor also vehemently denied drug allegations against him.

Chief Inspector Irma Teoxon, La Castellana Police chief, yesterday said that she was instructed by Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil, director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, to tighten the security of Mayor Mangilimutan.

Teoxon said they are now tracing the phone numbers, being used in relaying messages of death threats to the mayor. She also said that she was ordered by Castil to give special attention on the reported death threats against Mangilimutan, who used to be a police officer, and also married to a police official.

The Negros Occidental Association of Chief Executives and provincial chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines asked the PNP to protect them from violence, citing the recent killings of local government officials in the country.

The numerous death threats against Mangilimutan was also raised and discussed during the latest joint meeting of the Negros ACE and the LMP, which was presided over by Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca.

Teoxon said she already recommended to activate a COMPAC (Community Police Unit) station near the residence of Mayor Mangilimutan.

In making a narco-list, Mangilimutan said it is not only the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency that will do it, stressing that it is a collaborative effort of all security-related government agencies. She reiterated that it will be the people of La Castellana, who will protect her from any harm. (FREEMAN)