Slain broadcaster buried; allies cry for justice

MANILA, Philippines - A woman broadcaster slain in Malabon City last week was laid to rest in Quezon City yesterday as members of the homeowners group headed by the victim appealed for swift justice for her death.

“We are appealing to the authorities for immediate justice for Len. She’s a dependable and kind leader and we could not think of a reason why she was murdered,” a teary-eyed Monette Baala, 38, told The STAR. Baala is the treasurer of the Silonian Homeowners Association in Barangay Maysilo, Malabon City headed by Marlina “Len” Flores Sumera, 45, who was gunned down a few meters away from her house at around 9:35 a.m. Thursday, while on the way to dzME station in Caloocan City.

Police sources said yesterday they are already closing in on the four gunmen of Sumera. One of them is a woman identified only as alias Rosa, based in Barangay Catmon also in Malabon. The other one, an alias Alan is a resident of Bagong Barrio in Caloocan City. Both are reportedly contract killers also tagged in the killing of Navotas City barangay chairman Edwin Abella, 46, on March 15.

Leonora Cayas, 56, SHA board member for 11 years, said thousands of Sumera’s friends, supporters and fellow media practitioners and members of her family accompanied the victim to her burial at the Holy Cross Memorial Park in Novaliches, Quezon City yesterday morning.

Cayas expressed admiration for Sumera’s husband John for urging them to continue what his wife started, even though it caused Len her life. John said we must continue what she had started, we must carry on the fight,” Cayas said.

SHA has an ongoing P2.2 million development projects on the 4.2 hectares National Housing Authority property in Barangay Maysilo – the P1.7 million road widening and upgrading of canal and the P500,000 two-story multi-purpose hall.

The projects are being blocked by ano­ther homeowners group, Kapitbahayan at Samahan sa Maysilo, headed by Emma Nuqui.

Nuqui’s group opposed the project as 29 houses of their members are affected and they also claimed ownership to the property.