TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– Determined to accomplish President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s
directive to condole with and to bring the government’s support and to
the family of fallen vendors leader Charlie Solayao, Secretary Jesus
Dureza, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process, personally went to
Barangay 71 at Naga-Naga, Tacloban City.
It was a bit of a walk
passing through the earthen path walk lined by small shanties, going
to the house of the Solayao family which happens to be the last house.
Several neighbors and relatives were there as the remains of Charlie
Solayao has just been brought in from the nearby funeral parlor.
Wife Marina was
sitting in a chair beside the coffin, silently crying when Secretary
Dureza arrived. Her surprised couldn’t be hidden when Secretary Dureza
entered and introduced himself to have been sent by no less than
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
She said her husband
does not have any enemy. He was only fighting for the rights of the
market vendors and that the rallies he attended were only those
related to the market vendors’ gripes against the City Government.
Now, she does not know what will happen to her children, six of who
are still in elementary and high school.
Of the 12 Solayao
children, three are already married, 2 are working as housemaids in
Manila, 3 are in elementary school, 3 are in the high school lever and
one is helping in their fish vending.
She said that the
remains of Charlie was brought to their house only that afternoon
because she couldn’t produce the amount of money needed. She thanked
the owner for allowing her to pay just half because that was all she
was able to borrow. She also thanked the Sisters at the
Divine Word Hospital
for giving them a big discount so that she can bring the remains at
the funeral parlor. She also called on all the government agencies to
help her husband and her family.
Secretary Dureza and
Marina went into the kitchen of the house and talked for a while. When
they came out, Marina was sober and appeared stronger. Secretary
Dureza before leaving asked for the cellphone number of Marina so that
he could contact her.
Together with the
assurance that the government will help the Solayao family get justice
for the death of Charlie, he also promised the children who turned out
to be intelligent students and who expressed their desire to finish
their studies, that the government will help them. The son who is
third year high school was so happy to hear that news because he
intimated that he really wants to become a doctor someday.
Although Secretary
Dureza did not announce it to anybody, he left some money to Marina so
that she will be able to pay her bill at the funeral parlor.
