LA CASTELLANA Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said her constituents will protect her amid the death threats she is receiving.
Nicor-Mangilimutan, at the sidelines of her birthday celebration at Barangay Cabacungan in the southern Negros Occidental town yesterday, July 9, said she has been receiving threats, through text messages, recently.
The texts contain messages stating that the mayor is a narco-politician and that she will be assassinated next to Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili and General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote.
Nicor-Mangilimutan said she started receiving threats when she became mayor two years ago.
It stopped for a while but came back at the wake of the killings of two high ranking officials in Luzon, the mayor claimed.
"Amid fears, I am staying strong or else it will affect my responsibility in serving my constituents," Nicor-Mangilimutan said, as she called on the people of La Castellana to be vigilant and alert.
"I know they love me, so they will be the one to protect me," she added.
The mayor already brought this matter to the attention of the Association of Chief Executives (ACE) in the province.
Her fellow mayors have expressed sympathy and advised her to be careful, she said.
To ensure her safety, Nicor-Mangilimutan said she has transferred her residence, for the meantime, to a barangay outside the town proper.
"These threats are politically-motivated. They are trying to destroy us especially when we work hard for the town's progress," she added.
Moreover, the mayor challenged the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to conduct a thorough investigation amid claims anew that her brother Councilor White Nicor is allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
"Any reported involvement of public officials in the illegal drugs should come from the PNP and PDEA and not from just anybody who will just come out with an affidavit," she said.
(Birthday)
Nicor-Mangilumutan, who just turned 42, celebrated her birthday with the children and women of Barangay Cabacungan.
She initiated a feeding program for them and led the distribution of school supplies to at least 300 daycare pupils of the barangay.
"This is the first time that I celebrated my birthday outside my home. I have experienced poverty, so let me share to the less fortunate what I have now," Nicor-Mangilimutan said