BORONGAN, Eastern
Samar – Recently the Bishop and the Clergy of the Roman Catholic
church in the Diocese of Borongan described these incidents of killing
as “chilling silence”. The pastoral letter read in more than 29
parishes of Eastern Samar, mentioned “the lack of credible results from the killings’
investigations and the lack of efficient action as regards securing
citizens known to be subject to threats in the province.”
Last Thursday June 8,
the Bishop of Catarman hosted the regular meeting of the SIPPD (Samar
Island Partnership for Peace and Development), composed of 3 Bishops,
3 Governors and sectoral representatives from the three provinces of
Samar.
These unsolved
crimes/killings were one of the most talked about concerns during the
meeting and have agreed to write a resolution urging the PNP and other
agencies to maximize legal means to stop the killings and give justice
to the victims.
Approximately the
count of extra-judicial killings including attempted and frustrated
assassinations in the province has reached to more than ten; Boyax
Ramirez (Borongan), Raul Daza (Borongan, not the governor of Northern
Samar), Boy Muslim (muslim businessman), Alejo Libanan from Oras
(killed in Tacloban), Bagares (Guiuan), Atty. Norman Bocar (Borongan),
Antonio Alde III (Borongan), Bembem Bajado (Maydolong), David Costuna
(Borongan), Arcadio Macale (Borongan), frustrated murder Boy Ambida (Borongan),
Castor Gamalo (Balangiga), a certain Abundio (Sulat), Doydoy Abunda (Borongan).
The latest murder
cases
According to
Provincial PNP, at almost
midnight of
June 4, 2006 the shooting incident happened in Barangay Balud, during
a wake of a son of certain Ben Silvero who according to the neighbors
and family is a close friend of slain Barangay Chairman and the
Barangay Agrarian Reform Council (BARC) President.
Contrary to reports
the slain Barangay Captain, David G. Costuna in Barangay Balud this
municipality is not a member of the Bayan Muna, this was contested by
wife Nida Eljera-Costuna and daughters. Likewise Arcadio Y. Macale
farmer and president of the BARC, a project of DAR, is not a member of
the militant group.
Witnesses who were
present for the wake said Macale sat on the bench beside Costuna
earlier occupied by Silvero who left the scene. Few seconds or
approximately just a minute after the later left, a man wearing a
bonnet armed with M16 rifle shoot Macale first on the chest then
Costuna in the head while trying to help the wounded friend. Both died
instantly.
Perpetrator fled on
foot running towards the direction to a get away motorcycle with other
companions believed to be on the look out in strategic location.
Several other motorcycles fled in separate directions. Those attending
the wake with motorcycles observed that their tires were flat others
allegedly slashed.
“When I heard the gun
shoots, immediately I knew it was my father” (Pagbati ko han mga bubto
han pusil derecho ak nakasabot hi tatay adto nga pinusil) the
daughther of Costuna painfully related that they have already
anticipated since they received the death threats sent through mail
21st of March this year.
The letter with
black-square cloth stapled on its upper left-hand corner written on a
grade three writing pad reads; “Kapitan David: MAARAM KAMI NGA KAMO IT
NABULIG PAGPASILITAR GRUPO HIN SPARU NGA NAGAMIT HIN PULA NGA MOTOR
XLR NGAN IBA PA NGA MGA SARAKYAN. KINIKITA NAMON HIRA NGA NA GI-OS
TIKANG DIDI HA MAY SUR HASTA NGADA HA MAY NORTE. KAMO NA LA IT BAHALA
KON MAS UUROGON NIYO ITON NGA MGA TAWO KONTRA HIT IYO KINABUHI. KON
KARUYAG PA NIYO MABUHI PAG BAG-O NA KAMO!!! (in red ink the writer
identified themselves as VIGILANTE-ANTI COMMUNIST LEYSAM, no specific
name on it - see foto).
Aside from the letter,
unusual sightings of unidentified men near the vicinity of their
residence and their Barangay asking for the location of the Chairman
or his house, weeks and days before the incident happened.
Friends were telling
him to hide and run for life but refused saying he cannot leave and
turn his back from responsibility of being barangay chairman, recalled
his wife.
Chairman Costuna was a
publicly known figure in Borongan for his involvement and concern for
the farmers and victims of human rights violations. His official
affiliation was with the KMP, Kapisanan nga mga Magbubukid o Magsasaka ng Pilipinas and a parliamentarian according to wife Nida.
In fact according to her, during the Marcos regime he was very active
in demonstrations and campaigns to end and give justice to the victims
of oppression and other human rights violations. “Han una pa iton han
panahon ni Marcos an ak asawa ura-ura ka aktibo pagtaga hustisya”, she
added that his total dedication was presently running the Barangay
affairs.
In a related
development, Ben Silvero according to relatives he did not even wait
for the forty days (ending a prayer for the dead after forty days) of
his son, he is now in hiding. Neighbors and friends believed that
Arcadio Macale was mistaken to be Silvero who also received the same
warning letter as Costuna did.
Silvero is an active
member and official of the SIBF, Samar Island Biodiversity Foundation,
Inc., Eastern Samar Chapter, an NGO for environmental protection
specially forest biodiversity. He is also identified with farmers and
known to be an advocate against Human Rights violations and associated
with Bayan Muna group.
As of press time no
official report has been gathered form the PNP headquarters regarding
the case(s). Meanwhile they are calling out witnesses to come out and
help shed light to these unsolved crime.
