Negros Occidental mayor beefs up security amid death threats

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Amid the spate of killings of local officials, police have beefed up the security of Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan of La Castellana town in Negros Occidental, who said she has been receiving death threats.

Chief Inspector Irma Teoxon, La Castellana police chief, said yesterday she received orders from Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil, Negros Occidental police director, to tighten the security of Mangilimutan.

Mangilimutan expressed concern about her safety, amid allegations linking her and her brother, White, a town councilor, to the illegal drug trade.

“I believe that a majority of the people of La Castellana know who we are,” she said in denying the allegations. 

Mangilimutan said she received numerous text messages warning her that she would suffer the fate of Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan, Batangas and Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.

 Teoxon said they are tracing the phone numbers used to send the text messages.

Teoxon said she recommended the setting up of a community police unit near the mayor’s house.

The Negros Occidental Association of Chief Executives and League of Municipalities of the Philippines- Negros chapter asked the Philippine National Police to protect their members from violence.

Mayors have sought a meeting with President Duterte to air their concerns on the killings of local officials.