Quezon City 5th district Rep. Alfred Vargas is appealing for vigilance against all forms of poll-related intimidation and fraud after the delivery of an apparent death threat to himself and his younger brother, aspiring congressman PM Vargas.
"Ngayon ay nahaharap kami sa ganitong klase ng death threat na tinaon pa sa dulo ng kampanya (Now we are facing this kind of a death threat that was purposely made at the tail end of the campaign)," Rep. Vargas said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, May 3.
"Nananawagan kami sa aming pamilya, mga kaibigan, at supporters na samahan niyo kaming maging vigilant sa lahat ng uri ng kasamaan, pananakot at pandaraya na ginagawa ng ating mga kalaban ngayong eleksyon (We appeal to our family, to our friends, and to our supporters to join us in our vigilance against all forms of evil, intimidation, and fraud from our rivals in this elections)," he said.
It was at 1:25 p.m. Tuesday when a delivery rider dropped off a package containing two bullets at the home of the younger Vargas.
"Ito ay isang kahon na naka-address sa akin. Dalawang pirasong bala ng M16 ang laman. Maliwanag na ang intensyon ng nagpadala ay para takutin kami at ang aming pamilya (It was a box addressed to me. It contained two bullets from an M16 rifle. Clearly, the intention behind this is to intimidate us and our family)," he said, referring to himself and his brother Rep. Vargas.
“Hindi po natin hahayaang dumanak ang karahasan lalo na’t buhay ng aking pamilya ang nakataya sa usaping ito (We will not let violence take over especially since the lives of my family is at stake here)," said the House seat bet, who just recently became a father.
Rep. Vargas is on his third and final term as congressman of the 5th district. His brother is running to succeed him.
“Hahayaan ba ninyong sirain ng mga dayo nang ganon-ganon na lang at pagharian ng kadiliman ang Novaliches? Walang puwang sa District 5 ang mga nagsisiga-sigaang sindikato para makuha lang ang kanilang gusto. Habang papalapit na ang araw ng eleksyon, samahan niyo po kaming protektahan ang ating boto (Will you let outsiders destroy and instill darkness in Novaliches? These bully syndicates and their purpose have no place in District 5. Join us in protecting our votes as election day draws nearer)," the incumbent solon said.