Sual VM-elect receives ‘bullet’ threat
TENSION remains high in Sual two weeks after the May 12 elections as the town’s vice mayor-elect received a threat on his life on May 24 in the form of two M-16 rifle bullets wrapped in one of his campaign leaflets.
Incoming Vice Mayor Max Millan, currently a town councilor, said in an interview that this is the first time he received a threat of this nature in his public service, which he put on record at the town police station.
A seven-time councilor of Sual, Milan said the bullet bundle was found by their house-help morning of May 25, most likely left by the two unidentified men she saw prowling in the vicinity of their house around midnight of May 24.
Speaking in Ilocano, Milan said he believes he has not made any enemies and hinted that the threat could have possibly come from the opponent he defeated in the last election.
Millan garnered 14,578 votes, narrowly defeating incumbent Vice Mayor JC Arcinue, who got 13,275 votes.
Millan was the running mate of incumbent Mayor Liseldo Calugay, who roundly beat Arthur Celeste Jr., son and namesake of Rep. Arthur Celeste. Both Arcinue and Celeste run under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
The Calugay-Millan team won seven of the eight seats for councilor.
Calugay is currently on a three-month suspension imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman, and Arcinue was sworn in as acting mayor of Sual last May 5. The suspension order is under contention.
Meanwhile, Arcinue is reportedly seeking a recount of the votes, but Millan said he is not aware of such a move, nor has he received any official communication on the matter.
Milan said that while he is unfazed and has not requested additional police escorts, he is taking the threat seriously and goes out nowadays accompanied by one of his sons, their relatives, and kagawads of their barangay as a precaution.
Authorities are now investigating the incident to determine the identity and motive of the suspect behind the threat. (Leonardo Micua/Eva Visperas)
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