|
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Wenceslao: Firing incident at CPDRC
By Bong O. Wenceslao
As one who has written a number of short stories, I would say it is not difficult to grab a few grains from reality and from there allow the imagination to soar. From reports about a mother and a daughter killing an abusive father in a northern Cebu town, for example, bloomed my Palanca Award-winning work, “Ang mga Langam-langgam.”
Thus, I am not surprised that from telltale signs of bullets hitting the cell of Simon Lao, a potential star witness in the Mandaue City shabu laboratory case, a story or two has already been spun. But it wouldn’t have mattered if we were writing fiction; the problem is we are trying to establish the truth and use this as basis for future action.
The first plot had a gunman positioning himself from afar and firing shots at Lao’s cell, probably in the hope that it would kill him or at least make him tremble in fear. According to this storyline, the act was meant to silence Lao or at the very least force him to reconsider his plan to testify against his co-accused in the shabu lab case.
The other plot runs like this: adjacent to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) is another jail facility housing female inmates.
One night, a mad dog entered the premises of the jail and a jail guard, fearing the worst, chased the dog out and in the process, fired some shots that, yes, hit Lao’s cell.
Those storylines, however, are not airtight. Why those who want Lao killed would go to the extent of hiring a “sniper” to fire shots from afar bugs me—and using a handgun at that. The “mad dog” tale, on the other hand, is more believable, although it would be good to find out whether the guard hit the dog and had kaldereta for dinner.
What I am saying is that it would really pay if everybody rein in their imagination until all facts about the firing incident are in, except of course if our intention is to write fiction. Further investigation must be conducted so that a more believable theory can be presented. Truth will be better served that way. Or are we just in here for the laughs?
BRIDGES. As promised, construction of the Pinggan and Pakigne bridges in Minglanilla have been completed---almost. The approaches and the bridges themselves have been cemented and asphalted. I have observed though that work on the sidings has slowed down. Are they waiting for accidents to happen before work would be sped up again?
TEXTREAX. I finally bought a cell phone, a cheaper one this time around because of my tendency to lose these gadgets (this is my fourth). So those who want to send their Textreax contributions, my new cell number is 0915-9228651.
(December 28, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
