Platon kin still receive threats

TANAUAN CITY, Batangas — President Arroyo lamented that the family of slain Lakas-NUCD gubernatorial candidate Cesar Platon, whose wake she visited here yesterday, continued to receive threats.

This, as the Tanauan policemen rushed to the Platon residence yesterday afternoon to retrieve a gift-wrapped box left there.

Superintendent James Buccayu, city police chief, said a security guard at the Platon residence, fearing that the box contained a bomb, alerted the police bomb squad.

Platon’s secretary Nora Orpillanio said the box, which was later burned a few meters away from the house, turned out to contain human waste.

"This (act) is purely politically motivated. Whoever did this is already feeling insecure because the Lakas-NUCD is leading in the political race," said Platon’s younger brother Vicente Jr.

"I’m leaving it to the police to identify the pranksters responsible for this disgusting act," he added.

Vicente Jr. is being eyed by the Platon clan to replace Cesar in the gubernatorial race. Lakas-NUCD stalwarts in the province, led by Presidential Adviser to the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita and Rep. Lallie Laurel, met Lakas mayors yesterday to discuss Vicente’s endorsement.

Meanwhile, police said they have already identified the gunman who shot Platon at least three times in the head after speaking in a campaign rally in Tuy town past midnight Monday.

The other day, the police released the cartographic sketches of the triggerman and his two lookouts, based on the descriptions the witnesses had given.

The New People’s Army has claimed responsibility for Platon’s assassination, but probers are looking into other angles.