Brother of Davao bishop murdered

MANILA, Philippines - The younger brother of Davao Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla was shot dead Saturday evening in Oton, Iloilo.

Police reports said two gunmen fired at 65-year-old Romeo Capalla at around 6:30 p.m. at the Oton public market.

Oton police chief Senior Inspector Jigger Gimeno said the gunmen were on board two motorcycles with at least two other persons acting as lookouts.

The suspects fled towards the adjacent town of Tigbauan after they shot Capalla, who was chairman of the board of the Panay Fair Trade Center (PFTC) that sells organic products like muscovado sugar and ginger tea for the local and international markets.

Capalla was rushed to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City but was pronounced dead on arrival. He succumbed to two gunshot wounds in the head.

Gimeno said Capalla was going to fetch his mother-in-law who was at their store in the town market when the incident happened.

Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas, Iloilo police director, ordered investigators to dig deeper into the case.

Salinas said they are also considering several motives and angles in the killing Capalla.

“First, we have to know who is Romeo Capalla? What are his activities prior to the crime? What are his interests?” he added.

While police investigators have yet to name the suspects, human rights group Karapatan accused the military of killing Capalla.

Reylan Vergara, secretary-general of Karapatan-Panay, cited the alleged trumped up charges that were filed against Capalla.

Capalla was arrested in August 2005 and charged with arson for the burning of a construction firm’s office in Guimbal, Iloilo in 2004.

He was released after spending 32 days in jail.

Also accused with Capalla was Fernando Baldomero, who was killed on July 5, 2010.

Baldomero was then councilor of Lezo, Aklan and provincial chairman of Bayan Muna.

But the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division vehemently denied that it had anything to do with Capalla’s death.

“We don’t tolerate such acts. We also want a speedy investigation with the hope of bringing the suspects to jail,” said 3ID spokesman Major Ray Tiongson.

The 3ID community also extended their condolences to Capalla’s family.

A source, who requested anonymity, said that investigators could look into several angles in the incident.

“Since he was a ranking leader of the New People’s Army, investigators could consider the possibility that the rebel group might have something to do with the killing,” he said.

“Second, we have to consider the probability that he just severed his ties with the NPA in name only. He could still be working for them,” the source added.

But he tied Capalla’s killing to the ambush of Demetrio Capilastique alias Hugo, highest ranking leader of one of the armed factions of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA-ABB) in Panay island last December.