QUEZON City Rep. Alfred Vargas yesterday said he and his younger brother, councilor Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas who is running to succeed him as the representative of the city’s fifth district, have received death threats.
The brothers, in a statement, said a box containing two M-16 rifle (5.56 mm) bullets were sent to their office in Novaliches through a delivery rider at around 1:25 p.m. on Monday.
“Maliwanag na ang intensyon ng nagpadala ay para takutin kami at ang aming pamilya (The intention is clearly to scare us and our family),” the statement said.
Alfred, an actor-turned-politician, said it was the first time that he and his family have received death threats “and it happened at the end of the campaign period.”
“Nananawagan kami sa aming pamilya, mga kaibigan, at supporters na samahan niyo kaming maging vigilant sa lahat ng uri ng kasamaan, pananakot at pandaraya na ginagawa ng ating mga kalaban ngayong eleksyon (We’re calling on our families, friends and supporter to join us and be vigilant against this kind of evil deed, intimidation and cheating being committed by our rivals this election),” he said.
It was not immediately clear if a police report on the incident has been filed since the lawmaker did not immediately reply to text messages.
Alfred did not name any suspect but his brother is facing six other congressional bets in the district: former Rep. Annie Susano of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, businesswomen Rose Nono Lin of Lakas-CMD who was linked to the Pharmally mess; and independents Catherine Esplana and Rose Lyn Sanchez Angel Rustia Jr., and Antonio Ortega.
Alfred said he and his brother are being offered hundreds of millions in exchange of withdrawing from the congressional race but “we will not budge an inch no matter what kind of intimidation they resort to.”
“Habang papalapit na ang araw ng eleksyon, samahan niyo po kaming protektahan ang ating boto. Tumayo po tayo sa likod ni PM (As the election nears, join us in protecting our vote. Let’s sand behind PM). Let us all stand together to protect PM and District 5,” he said.
