Stones were thrown to break the glass window of the residence of Tagba-o Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson Jeanly Pador at dawn on Monday. / Courtesy of the Facebook page of Jeanly Pador
CEBU CITY, Philippines – At least three more supporters of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) alleged that their homes were stoned during the weekend while two others said that they no longer feel safe because of threats that they have been getting.
Joyce Bontilao, head of the Barangay Mayor’s Office (BMO) in the mountain barangay of Taptap, said that unidentified men visited their barangay at around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday to ask for the location of her residence.
Bontilao, who also run for Taptap barangay captain under BOPK in the October 2018 election but lost, said she was lucky that the neighbor, whom the men asked, did not reveal the location of her home.
“Dili gyud ma likayan nga mo action ta ug kabalaka ani. Nganong naa may mga taw nga wala mi kaila unya mangita nako nga gabie na? Nganong dili man sila mangita sa adlawan?,” she told CDN Digital in a phone interview today, May 7.
(I can’t help but feel worry. Why would some strangers look for my whereabouts at nighttime? Why won’t they look for me at daytime?)
The more than two men were on board separate motorcycles and were wearing helmets to cover their faces, said Bontilao.
BOPK sources said that Babag Barangay Councilor Rebecca Quilaton also received a text message telling her to be cautious because of threats on her security.
During the weekend, at least three more BOPK supporters complained that their homes located in the mountain barangays of Tabunan, Tagba-o and Sirao were also stoned by a group of unidentified men.
The suspects, who were onboard seven different motorcycles, were said to be wearing helmets or bonnets and black jackets.
Read More: House of BO-PK supporter strafed, another was slapped on the face
Shortly before midnight on Sunday, separate groups of motorcycle-riding men also visited the homes of two BOPK allies in the mountain barangay of Sudlon 1.
One of the suspect strafed the house of BMO head Amor Cabiles located in Sitio Consit. Another group also visited the home of Dennifer Aguilar in Sitio Tabla, slapped her on the face and fired shots into the air at least three times before they left.
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A BOPK supporter, who asked not to be named, said that the harassment that they now experience may eventually discourage some of their supporters and allies to go out during the election on Monday to cast their votes.
The supporter who is a barangay official from one of the mountain barangays in the city said that some of their neighbors especially the elderly have already expressed disinterest to vote in the election because of fear for their security.
“Nay mga hungihong nga maayo na lang kuno i boycott sa election labi na gikan sa nga senior,” he told CDN Digital in a phone interview today, May 7.
(I have been hearing talks from people, especially the seniors, who wanted to boycott the election.)