Mikey unfazed by death threats

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Presidential son Mikey Arroyo said yesterday he would continue his campaign sorties even after an apparent supporter of former President Joseph Estrada sent him five live bullets and a threatening letter here last Saturday.

"There is no reason for me to back out from my vice gubernatorial bid now that I have committed myself to my cabalens," Mikey said in a telephone interview.

He is likely to become this province’s next vice governor after two of his rivals, Vice Gov. Clayton Olalia and movie actor Roi Vinzon, gave up their candidacies to give way to his bid.

The five M-16 bullets were found inside an envelope in the toilet of a restaurant where Mikey met his supporters last Saturday morning. The letter accompanying the bullets was addressed to him.

The letter stated: "Sobra-sobra na ang ginagawa ninyong panggigipit sa aming mahal na tunay na presidente ng Pilipinas. Hindi lahat ng oras ay hawak ninyo (Your harassment of our beloved true president of the Philippines is simply too much. But time is not always in your hands)." It ended with, "Mula sa EDSA III (From EDSA III)."

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Reynaldo Wycoco said they will investigate the incident.

Mikey, however, said, "I am not scared. I respect the democratic rights of the people to air their views and sentiments in an assembly, but they should not destroy properties and harm other people."

Mikey has been traveling to remote Pampanga barangays to campaign. Even virtually unopposed, he said he would still continue visiting these communities to acquaint himself with their problems.

"It is not right for me to stop visiting people in far-flung areas just because my rivals now support me. I have to know how I could be of service to them," he said.

President Arroyo, in a statement, expressed concern for Mikey’s safety, saying, "It is the mother who is affected most whenever there is a threat to the very safety of her child."

The President has asked the Presidential Security Group to provide tighter security for Mikey. — Ding Cervantes, Mike Frialde