DAVAO CITY (PNA) – About 19 village chieftains from the three districts of the city urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt them from the gun ban so that they can defend themselves against any possible harm by individuals behind the threat text messages they received from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. last Friday.

Joji Lumanog, village chieftain of Barangay Cabantian, Buhangin, said all recipients of the threat text messages agreed to ask the poll body to exempt them from the gun ban.

He said they were all willing to comply with the needed requirements just to ensure that they could defend themselves against any threat.

“We must not lower our guard. We are not afraid but it is not also good that they can just take anyone of us down easily especially for those living in far-flung barangays,” Lumanog said.

He said that the threat was directed to leaders identified with the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, the local political party of City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

He cited the part of the message which surmised the chair’s affiliation and alliance.

Lumanog said that their 100 percent support to the Duterte’s was a public knowledge.

Lumanog declined to clarify his suspicion behind the threat in the absence of concrete pieces of evidence.

“We must not take the threat lightly,” he said.

Janette Navarro, village chieftain of Lasang, said the threat message should not be taken lightly as she already noticed motorcycle-riding men monitoring her residence.

She said she was not afraid because she’s already old and willing to die anytime for a good cause.