Slain German was relief volunteer

CEBU, Philippines - The German national who was killed at a fast food branch in Talisay City last Friday was among those who volunteered in the relief efforts for survivors of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in 2013.

“He was one of the most hardworking volunteers that we had,” said Jill, one of the founders of Volunteer in Cebu. She met Henry Haffner through a friend who was hosting the latter when Haffner arrived in the Philippines.

 “I met him through another friend who was hosting him through a travel organization in 2013. His plan is to travel the Philippines… we are members of the same organization for travelers. He was travelling through Cebu before the earthquake happened,” Jill said.

While Haffner was in Cebu, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit Central Visayas on October 15, 2013, causing massive destruction in Bohol and Cebu. At least 200 people were killed in the incident with countless houses and structures either destroyed or damaged, including historical churches both in Bohol and Cebu.

“We organized a relief operation for Bohol. He might have happened to see a post on our Facebook page that we were looking for volunteers… so he changed his travel plans to help out through volunteering,” Jill said.

After the first relief operation, Haffner left Cebu to carry on his travel plans only to return for another round of volunteer work.

“When he knew that we are going to make another relief operation for Bohol, he came back to join us again. He changed travel times several times just to make it to our relief operations,” Jill recalled.

When super typhoon Yolanda struck the Visayas less than a month after the earthquake, Haffner helped yet again in relief efforts in Bantayan and Bogo City.

On its Facebook page, Volunteers in Cebu called for justice for the fallen German: “It is with very heavy hearts that we say farewell to one of the most hardworking volunteer we’ve ever had. Henry was with us when Volunteer In Cebu was just starting. From the relief operations during the earthquakes in Bohol to Bantayan Island after super typhoon Yolanda. Often changing travels plans just so he can help out. This is also a call to our local police to give him justice, to find the perpetrators.”

Haffner, 31, was killed while Frenchman Julian Millard, 31 and Indian Cheten Saparaiya, 31, were injured when they were attacked by two gunmen inside a branch of McDonalds in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City past 4 a.m. last Friday.  

One of the two suspects, Allan Velos, 35, of Talisay City is now behind bars.

 Several Facebook users expressed sympathy for the German. One Facebook user, Clifford Jay Apac, wrote: “Grabe ang mga panghitabo, maayng tawo pa jud ang biktima! Condolence for the family of Sir Henry.”

 Another user, June-Marie Dosdos, wrote: “This really angers me. So many good people gone through senseless acts of violence. It makes me want to badly hurt those murderers when/if they’re caught, but that will make me just as bad as them. R.I.P. good sir. Thank you for trying to make this world a better place.” —JMO  (FREEMAN)