San Pablo volunteers probing past admin projects receive .45 bullets bearing their names as ‘gift’

• Three volunteers for the San Pablo City LGU found a box containing .45-caliber bullets marked with their initials and "R.I.P." at a garage in Barangay 5-D
• Victims Ernie Empemano and Rene Amorao believe the threat is a direct retaliation for their ongoing review of infrastructure projects from the previous administration
• Despite the clear intimidation attempt, the volunteers asserted that those who governed honestly have nothing to fear from their auditing work
• The San Pablo City Police, led by Lt. Col. Redentor Tiraña, have launched a full investigation to track down the sender of the death threats

The festive air of the Christmas season turned chilling for three local government volunteers in San Pablo City after they received a threatening "gift" on Friday evening; live ammunition engraved with their initials and a sinister message wishing them to "R.I.P.", which is the popular initials for "Rest in Peace."

The threatening package was discovered by Ernie Empemano, a known civic leader and former congressional candidate, in the garage of his residence in Barangay 5-D around 6:30 p.m.

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Inside a small, unassuming box were three .45-caliber bullets. Each bullet was meticulously marked. One with Empemano’s alias, another with the initials "R.A." for his colleague Rene Amorao, and a third with "J.R.," referring to a member of their staff.

The box also contained the initials "R.I.P.," transforming a season meant for peace into a stark warning of potential violence.

Empemano and Amorao are currently serving as volunteer oversight officers for the San Pablo City local government unit (LGU).

Their mandate involves a rigorous review of flagship infrastructure projects left behind by the previous administration.

Both men strongly believe this advocacy for transparency is the motive behind the death threat.

"Ang palagay po namin ito ay konektado sa aming ginagawang pagtulong sa local na pamahalaan," Empemano stated in an interview. "Dahil kami po ngayon ang namamahala sa flagship projects po ng local na pamahalaan."

Despite the clear intimidation tactic, the volunteers remain defiant. Amorao challenged the anonymous senders, emphasizing that transparency should not be feared by those with clean hands. " Kung tama naman yun mga ginawa noong nakaraang walang dapat ikabahala," Amorao said.

The incident has been formally blottered at the barangay hall and reported to the San Pablo City Police Station.

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Police Lieutenant Colonel Redentor Tiraña, the city’s police chief, confirmed that an investigation is already underway.

Authorities are currently tracing the origin of the package and analyzing CCTV footage from the vicinity of Empemano's home to identify the courier.

For now, the volunteers have tightened their security but vowed that the "Christmas gift" will not deter them from their mission to ensure accountability in the city's governance.

In other news, a man’s dangerous decision to scale a utility pole and traverse live electrical wires triggered an unscheduled blackout across multiple Davao City neighborhoods on December 25. To protect the individual's life, Davao Light and Power Co. deactivated a high-voltage 69kV transmission line, enabling emergency responders from the police and fire departments to execute a high-stakes rescue. Upon his safe return to the ground, the man confessed to substance use and explained that he climbed the infrastructure to flee an imaginary dog that he believed was hunting him. Although the situation ended without physical injury and electricity was reinstated by midday, the individual is now being held accountable through formal charges of alarm and scandal.

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Still in other news, the ongoing holiday festivities have been marred by tragedy as at least two children were forced to undergo surgical finger removals following severe firecracker blasts. Statistics released by the Department of Health show that as of late December, the number of confirmed fireworks-related medical cases has climbed to 91 across the country. Investigation into the casualties reveals that young males remain the most affected group, with a significant majority of incidents caused by the handling of prohibited explosives. In light of the rising numbers, medical experts are urging the public to avoid dangerous pyrotechnics and are providing instructions on how to properly treat blast wounds before reaching a hospital.

Source: KAMI.com.gh