Anger, grief filled Calumba’s burial

CEBU, Philippines — A week after he was killed in what was considered as a botched ambush attempt, Police Officer 3 Eugene Calumba was laid to rest at a memorial park in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental yesterday.

Mixed emotions of grief, disappointment, and anger filled Calumba’s Requiem Mass in Barangay Camanjac up to the funeral rites in Barangay Cadawinonan, as his kin and fellow police officers cried for justice over his killing.

“Nganong wala man ka nag-amping? Ang talino mo, (pero) hindi ka naman nag-isip. Ano na kami ngayon?” 61-year-old Maria Elime said to her son’s remains, moments before he was buried.

Calumba’s fellow police officers were also in full force, most of them from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NORPPO) where Calumba spent most of his career.

NORPPO Acting Director Raul Tacaca, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Chief Royina Garma, and Dumaguete City Police Chief Jonathan Pineda were among the high-ranking officials who attended the funeral rites.

Earlier, the Philippine flag at NORPPO’s Camp Francisco Fernandez Jr. in Sibulan town were put in half-mast to mourn for Calumba’s death.

Calumba’s wife, Rosemarie, promised her slain husband that she would stand up to take care of their kids.

She also told reporters that she will be supporting the dreams of their son Eugene Jr., who said he would follow his late father’s footsteps and become a policeman himself.

“Nadawat na pud nako (ang kamatayon sa akong bana). Kay ingon ana man gyud nang kinabuhi sa pulis. Ang ilang kinabuhi para sa serbisyo man gyud,” she said.

She also vehemently denied accusations that her husband was a hit man.

“Dedicated kayo nang akong bana sa iyang trabaho, gahimo lang gyud na siya sa iyang trabaho. Wala na siyay gihimo nga dili maayo,” the wife added.

To recall, Calumba was killed in Barangay Tejero, Cebu City last July 30.

Tejero councilman Jessielou Cadungog’s bodyguard, William Macaslang, has claimed that he thought the police officer was out to kill the councilman.

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 has since denied the allegations.

For her part, Garma said that Calumba will be posthumously receiving honors as a police officer, while his family will be receiving a pension so long as Rosemarie does not remarry.

She also said they have also filed murder and frustrated murder cases against Macaslang and Cadungog, based on the testimony of two witnesses who said that the barangay councilman was in the vehicle during the shootout.

They reportedly heard Cadungog telling Macaslang, “Biraha, biraha,” Garma added.

“Maraming witness na nakakita talaga (sa krimen), but they are afraid. They’re willing to give information talaga. Overwhelming at may consistency (yung statements nila) pero ayaw nilang mag-execute ng affidavit out of fear, because they know the capacity of Mr. Cadungog noong barangay captain pa siya up to now,” Garma said.

She said the CCPO is also working on administrative and criminal cases against “certain elected officials” who intervened in the case, allegedly tampering the crime scene and giving out false information. (FREEMAN)