Charles Teves
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has yet to act on rumored threats targeted at Vice President Leni Robredo’s campaign.
As supporters in Iligan waited for Robredo to arrive, a Facebook page called “Maayong Iligan” warned people to be more cautious after a bomb threat. Luckily, nothing bad happened, and the visit was a success.
Ingat po kayo VP @lenirobredo .
Cc: @pnppio pic.twitter.com/o03Lyxo981
— Jover Laurio (@PinoyAkoBlog) February 22, 2022
However, the lack of intervention done by authorities worried voters.
Bomb threat jokes? Hello @pnppio @DOJPH @NBIPH
— kwishami (@kwishamiii) February 22, 2022
https://twitter.com/pinkintwit/status/1496108311561015297?s=20&t=64DNlolnZi3Tdhd5gkmbWQ
This is obviously a threat.. @pnppio @COMELEC
— No name here (@iamyourperson04) February 22, 2022
This is not a joke. Ito Ay isang death threat dapat seryosohin Ang ganitong irresponsible post.
— Edmar GarlanLozanes (@garlanlozanes) February 22, 2022
Netizens noted how the PNP and the NBI took immediate action when a death threat against presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos lit up TikTok.
bakit ito hindi agad pinaimbestigahan ng PNP at NBI samantalang obvious nman na may threat..ay oo nga pala ksi hindi si bbm..
— Aji Kwon (@lilalesid_0908) February 22, 2022
The threat against Robredo is much more serious compared to the one that Marcos faced.
Baka naman may sense of urgency @pnppio tulad nung threat daw sa Tikok nung isang kandidato.
— #NeverAgain (@ebernardino666) February 22, 2022
Ruel Ricafort, accused of making threats against Marcos, surrendered himself to the NBI. He admitted to being a Robredo supporter but denied making any threats.
He said someone stole his photos and uploaded the threatening video on TikTok. “The man (in the TikTok video) was not me. I did not do it,” he said. “Someone used a photo from my Facebook account to create that account on TikTok,” he added.
Ricaafort was eventually released with no charges.
https://twitter.com/KakampinkDfendr/status/1496112631836704770?s=20&t=64DNlolnZi3Tdhd5gkmbWQ
https://twitter.com/impresidentleni/status/1496120562468495361?s=20&t=64DNlolnZi3Tdhd5gkmbWQ
Meanwhile, Robredo in a speech said that Mindanao will win her the presidency.
“I’ll very be candid about it. Pag tiningnan natin results noong 2016, malaki opportunities for us dito sa Mindanao,” she said. “It is not as if bumabalik kami dito dahil eleksyon…kung marami akong naipanalo dito in 2016 nang wala pa akong relationships nabubuo, lalo ngayon,” she added.
Robredo edged Marcos by 250,000 votes in Northern Mindanao during their close 2016 vice-presidential race.
“Kahit mahirap yung political landscape ngayon dahil hindi ako admin candidate…nakikita natin yun gumagalaw dito ito yung private citizens, mga advocacy groups, mga civil society na nakatrabaho natin,” she furthered.
