Even before the filing of certificate of candicacies for those who want to run for the coming elections, election fever is starting to heat up in Danao where the sympathizers and followers of Danao Mayor Tom Gonzaga were alleged to have been threatened by followers of Vice Mayor Jose Cepedoza who is reported to run against the mother of Mayor Gonzaga in the 2013 elections for mayor.  Mayoralty candidate Naty Redulla Gonzaga deplored the manner by which men of Vice Mayor Cepedoza harass her supporters even threatening them allegedly with death if they do not switch their support from the Gonzagas to the Cepedozas.,Gonzaga, who prefers to play the role of a supporter for her son Tom, is embarking on a new field, politics, to continue the legacy  of her son who brought Danao to the fame it is enjoying not only in the field of tourism but in governance as well.

 In an interview, one of those allegedly threatened who refuse to divulge his name for security reasons alleged that Vice Mayor Cepedoza personally warned her that if she continues to support the Gonzagas, this will irritate him and might do him harm. This report raised some concern by the Gonzagas on the manner this election is going to be conducted in a small place like Danao. We have never been known to be rogue and threatening in the many years that my son Tom steered Danao to where it is now, Naty Gonzaga said. It may be recalled that four of the Gonzaga suppoters have either been killed or attempted to be killed since last year culminating in the gruesome murder of Mario Roldan Torres in Inabanga this month. Among the victims identified were Walter Melencion who was killed in barangay Sta. Fe in October last year, Lawyer Abeleon Sabijon, Danao legal consultant, was shot while on his way to his office in Tagbilaran, JR Duaves who was also shot at Magtangtang and finally Torres who was murdered this month.

Two members of Sangguniang Bayan, Kag. Lirio Vitor and Kag. Teodorico Auxtero, delivered several privilege speeches before Vice Mayor Cepedoza deploring his alleged threats to them within the premises of the town hall. In fact, Kag. Auxtero boldly warned the Vice Mayor that should anything happen to him, his family will hold Vice Mayor Cepedoza responsible.  Kag. Auxtero said that the unknown men patrol areas of supporters of the Gonzagas as a form of harassment. But, he continued, this strategy will not work given the benefits the Gonzagas have given the people of Danao. This is also a sign of a weak voter-base because of the failure of Vice Mayor Cepedoza, who was also a former mayor of Danao to alleviate the people of Danao from poverty, Auxtero said. He further alleged that if the Cepedozas have the critical mass as their supporters, clearly, they will not resort to this deplorable acts. This is almost an act of desperation, he continued.