Anti-graft crusadergets death threats

CEBU, Philippines - Whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra has claimed to have received death threats for allegedly being noisy about the Capitol's P250 million heavy equipment deal and the P51 million consultancy contract.

Saavedra reported the incident Friday to the office of Governor Hilario Davide III with urgent request for action from the National Bureau of Investigation-7 and the Police Regional Office 7.

 Saavedra claimed to have received an unsigned letter at about 6 p.m. on October 27.

"We know how you work. We know where you live. Your extortionist scheme guising as decent advocate will be unmasked lest you shut your mouth with bucks," read the letter.

It also asked how much is Saavedra's price though they know he is just cheap.

"Our weapons are already warm. Should you commit one false move over the heavy equipment or consultancy services, we'll make sure you and your family will be in peace…for good," it further said.

 The sender also challenged Saavedra to sue the governor and not just include the decent working men of Capitol who performed their work beyond its salary grade.

"They will fight to death if they found themselves in a middle of a firefight," it added.

 At 2 p.m. on the same date, Saavedra also received an invitation dated October 26, 2016 for the pre-bidding conference on November 2 on the procurement of P252.7 million worth of va-rious brand new construction light and heavy equipment signed by Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino, who heads the Bids and Awards Committee.

 In his letter addressed to Davide, Saavedra said that prior to the delivery of said letters, a lady called him and requested for his address for the purpose of the delivery of the invitation for the pre-bid conference.

 "It only shows it is only the members of the BAC that knows my address and will have interest on the result of my participating in the pre-bid as an observer," he said.

 Few days before the deliveries of said letters, Saavedra said the husband of one of the BAC members called him over the phone and advised him to be careful of his life and his family.

 "This is strange, for I am not the main author of this negative information about the Cebu Provincial Capitol bidding and transactions. Firstly, what I was doing was to save the governor and the innocent government officials from being charged in court," he said.

 Saavedra told Davide that his people did it because they mentioned the transaction of the Capitol and they don't like him to monitor the projects.

"At this point in time we are holding the BAC members, you as the head of the procuring office, responsible for my life and of my family," Saavedra added. —/FPL (FREEMAN)