NORSU execs receive death threats

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – At least five officials of the Negros Oriental State University have reported to the police they had received death threats amid the continuing controversy involving its "suspended" president that has led to a tense campus environment at present.

NORSU officer-in-charge Dr. Peter Dayot confirmed the death threats sent through text messages in separate instances over the recent months, but he declined to be specific on who their suspect or suspects are.

Number one in the list of those threatened was Board of Regents secretary Adelie Utzurrum. Others were Dino Ramacho, Roche Cabanlit, Daryl Ligan and Dr. Noel Yasi, as well as members of NORSU's committee investigating the case of Dr. Don Vicente Real, the suspended university president.

"I think it is very unfortunate because I don't think that people who are just doing their jobs should be treated that way," Dayot told reporters on Monday after a tensed incident when Real tried to return to the campus with the argument that his suspension already ended.

Asked if the death threats were related to the ongoing investigation of Real, Dayot replied: "It might come from somebody else outside, it might come from them. It's very hard for me to conclude right now."

The recipients of the death threats however suspected that these may come from people who were not pleased with the investigation. "We cannot just take it with a grain of salt, and we have to be on guard all the time," said Dayot.

The cellphone numbers from which the death threats came from were varied and unknown to the recipients, prompting Dayot to beef up security of university personnel and students.

At least six security guards were hired for a 24/7-duty after Friday's incident when Real and some companions allegedly forced their way into the campus.

Real and company allegedly broke the lock at the president's office, where he stayed the night and left Saturday afternoon, reportedly with three boxes of documents "taken without consent" from his office. Authorities intercepted and retrieved the documents with an inventory now being made.

Real is still being barred from entering the university's premises for as long as the preventive suspension is in effect. It would have been lifted on January 5 but BOR Resolution 138, issued last week, extended this until January 22.

If, by that date, the BOR shall not have come up with a decision on the administrative investigation on Real, he shall automatically be reinstated and can resume office the following day, according to lawyer Vicente de la Plaza, speaking in behalf of Dayot.

The preventive suspension of Real stemmed from the investigation findings and recommendation of the Office of the Solicitor General on the procurement of a multi-million pesos speech laboratory at the NORSU campus in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, which was allegedly priced way beyond its estimated cost of less than P2 million.

The OSG on October 2014 recommended for the filing of an administrative charge against Real for "grave misconduct, dishonesty, falsification of public/official document and gross dishonesty."