Mass death threat report bared, police say it’s extortion

PAOAY, Ilocos Norte (Feb. 9) – At least 10 barangay captains (village chieftains) have reported that they had received alleged death threats via separate cellphone text messages recently.

S/Insp. Rodel del Castillo, town police chief, who read the messages, quickly dismissed the death threat report saying that it was purely an act of extortion.

Del Castillo explained that the ‘texter’ demanded a certain amount of money from the barangay captains in exchange for their lives, which is far from the modus operandi of a real gun for hire. (tsg)