Moreno gets death threats

MANILA, Philippines - Re-electionist Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno has been getting death threats recently, his aide said yesterday.

Secretary to the vice mayor Bernie Ang, who is running for District 3 councilor, said Moreno started receiving threats sent though text messages just after the campaign period started, and the situation has escalated in terms of frequency and gravity.

Moreno confirmed Ang’s claim and said the latest threat he received was a letter sent to his home in Tondo, containing a black ribbon and a reminder that his life and and that of his family were borrowed. “May your soul go to heaven,” the message, written in Filipino, added.

Moreno said the threat is no longer surprising, as he considers it one of the hazards that come with his job.

Moreno said the source of the threat is obvious, but refused to name names.

The threat comes at a time when Moreno is holding campaign sorties and causes daily.

Ang said that during the campaign period for the 2007 local elections, a pillbox was thrown at residents attending a caucus led by then mayoralty bet Alfredo Lim and Moreno, who was then a councilor running for vice mayor. A number of residents were hurt in the explosion.