CEBU, Philippines — “Justice for Nonoy” was the cry of supporters of slain Association of Barangay Councils President Ricardo Reluya, Jr. when his remains were brought to San Fernando town yesterday, five days after he was killed in an ambush in Talisay City on January 22.
Reluya is the husband of San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya who, along with two others, survived the ambush.
The mayor was not able to receive her husband’s remains as she is still in the hospital recovering from the gunshot wound in her left arm.
But Reluya’s five siblings arrived from Dipolog City and saw the massive support their brother received from supporters, many of whom were in tears, at the Saint Isidore Church.
“Overwhelming amo gibati. Nakita namo unsa siya kamahal sa taga San Fernando. Nalipay mi kaayo wala siya nahikawan sa iyang mission kay nakita namo unsa siya gimahal (We were overwhelmed. We saw how much he is loved by the residents of San Fernado. We are happy knowing that he was not deprived of his mission because we saw how much he is loved),” said Reluya’s older sister Marissa Oberes.
Jade Alvarado, a member of Reluya’s group, the Dipolog Cycles Unlimited, said they decided to turn the engines of the motorcycles as Reluya’s remains arrived as a symbolic gesture.
“It is a gesture of our condolence and sympathies to the family… mura pud siya 21-gun salute,” Alvarado said.
Filomeno Leyson, president of a community organization in San Fernando, said they will make sure Reluya’s legacy will not be put to waste. He said Reluya was hands on in developing projects.
“Amo paninguhaon nga kung unsa man to iyang gibilin, amo ma-maintain, aron di pud mausik ang iyang hinaguan. Dakong kawad-on ni San Fernando tungod kay usa siya mga pinakakusog mutabang sa purok (We will do our best to maintain what he left us with. He is a big loss to San Fernando because was he was the one who helped the communities best,” Leyson told The FREEMAN.
Father figure
Reluya’s remains will be placed at the town’s gymnasium for public viewing but will be transported to Dipolog City within the week.
Oberes said it is there where her brother wants to be laid to rest alongside their parents.
“Sa Dipolog ni dalhon. Adto siya ipahumatang kay gusto niya, in case mawala siya, didto siya makigtapad sa iya mama and papa (He will be brought to Dipolog. He said before that he would want to be laid to rest beside his mother and father when he passes on),” she said.
She described Reluya as “loving, generous, down-to-earth, and kind”.
The fourth child, Reluya reportedly assumed as father figure when they lost their parents, Oberes said.
“Siya ang among igsuon nga ni-stand na namo as a father, kay wala mi ginikanan, bisan manghud siya namo, bisan naa na mi kanya-kanya na pamilya, still naa siya, labi na sa financial (Despite being younger than us, he was the one assumed as our father figure… even when we had our own families, he was still there for us, especially financially),” Oberes said.
She said they are unsure if they can even visit Cebu again because it was always Reluya who would fetch them at the pier each time they would come here.
Oberes said they trust that the police can solve the case and arrest her brother’s assailants.
Investigation
Chief Insp. Lymel Pasquin, the newly-installed chief of the San Fernando Police, told The Freeman they are working closely with the Special Investigation Task Group, which was formed to investigate the ambush.
PNP chief Oscar Albayalde has given local authorities only two weeks to investigate.
Pasquin said at least 16 personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion will secure the gymnasium where Reluya’s remains are.
Barangay tanods have also been tasked to monitor their areas for suspicious movements following consecutive killings of personalities in the town.
This month alone, municipal councilors Johnny Arriesgado and Reneboy Dacalos were shot dead by unidentified assailants.
Police eye drug links in both cases. (FREEMAN)