Odilao claims receiving death threats

CEBU, Philippines - Former Customs district collector and ANAD party-list nominee David “Boy” Odilao yesterday told police in Talisay City that he has received death threats through his mobile phone.

Based on the police report, Odilao received the first text message last April 27, 2010 at 7:43 p.m. which read: “pahimulos ka husto mangilad ka maayo sa imo gibuhat pagsamok-samok sa ANAD kaw tigulanga ka.

 Magmahay ka, tago maayo gukdon ta ka bisan asa ka magtago.”

 The message was allegedly sent by mobile phone number +639061722826.

 Odilao also alleged that he received another message last May 2 at 8:26 p.m. which said:

 “Maayo gabii kuya ayaw kompiyansa may kuno ipapatay ka bago mag-election”. On that same day at 8:42 p.m., he received another message, which said: “nag-meeting sila karon kaw topic sa ilaha plano di ko gusto kuya ilaha himuon moabot ra mailhan mo ko.”

 The following day, the former Customs district collector got another message from the same number, the sender of which refused to identify himself, with practically the same message as the last.

 He may have a suspect already, but Odilao refused to name whoever that person or group of people could be.

 Odilao could have gained enemies from the other ANAD (Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy) Party-list after he made his separate ANAD party-list where he is now the first nominee. Odilao last month even sued his former employer, Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr. of ANAD party-list for libel after the former gave an interview to a local paper (not The FREEMAN) and accused him of taking away the party’s money.

 Odilao called Alcover’s statement as “malicious, defamatory and untruthful” which he said had “cast and created dishonor, discredit and contempt upon my person.”

 Allegedly Alcover dismissed Odilao as his chief of staff for reportedly taking the party’s money, but for his part, Odilao refuted such accusations saying he was not in control of the group’s funds ever since.

 In last 2007 election, Odilao was the party’s forth nominee, where only Alcover being the first nominee made it to the House of Representatives. But following their rift, Odilao together with his other party-mates made a second ANAD and was reportedly endorsed by majority of their members in a general assembly last March.

 Odilao explained that since the 2007 election, their party has not gathered for a national assembly which is a violation of their own by-laws. In that March gathering, the second ANAD voted its new set of leaders, where Odilao was made the new party chairman. The gathering he said, also resulted to his being named the first nominee, with Leborio Jangao Jr. as second, Alexnader Canonigo, and Bernard Mabbagu as third and fourth, respectively.

Odilao explained that it is now up to the Comelec to decide which of the two ANADs it will recognize. - THE FREEMAN