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Monday, April 17, 2006
Honors planned for slain Bantay Dagat director
IN HONOR of the late Bantay Dagat Commission Chief Elpidio “Jojo” de la Victoria, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is thinking of renaming Kawit Point as Jojo’s Point.
Osmeña sought the opinion of the members of the City Council on his idea a day after de la Victoria’s death at the hands of a still-unidentified gunman.
The eight-hectare Kawit Point at the South Reclamation Project (SRP) is home to the Bantay Dagat Commission office, as well as the SRP administrative building and the Office of the Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA).
At least three councilors said they agree with the mayor’s idea since the place would remind the public of the projects and advocacy programs of de la Victoria.
Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. said, though, that if the mayor pursues his plan, the actual renaming of the place would take at least five years, as mandated by an existing city ordinance.
Councilor Gerardo Carillo, however, is hopeful the process could be shortened since draft amendments to the ordinance on the renaming of streets and public places is already pending at the council for final approval.
“To me, there’s no problem, it’s a good idea because the Bantay Dagat office is in that area of the SRP and Jojo is symbolic of Bantay Dagat. The place would be symbolic of what Jojo has done for the city,” Pe told Sun.Star Cebu.
De la Victoria, who was also the Cebu City market administrator, died early Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after a lone assailant shot him outside his home in Barangay San Roque, Talisay City.
Leads
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 is pursuing several leads and gathering more witnesses to help identify the gunman.
“We’re doing it slowly but surely,” Senior Supt. Jorge Corpus, CIDG 7 head, said in an interview over dyLA yesterday.
CIDG 7 deputy director Rex Derilo told Sun.Star Cebu they have already shown several pictures of the possible gunman to the witnesses, but so far have not found a match.
At least six witnesses have already volunteered to help in the investigation, but Derilo urged other witnesses to show up at the CIDG 7, Talisay City Police Station or the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau of the Cebu City Police Office.
Witnesses may call up the CIDG 7 at 415-8764 to give information.
As to the possibility that the gunman is a policeman, Corpus supported Derilo’s earlier suspicion that it could be the gunman’s ploy to deceive people into thinking that he is a law enforcer.
“(It) is not definite yet if the assailant is a policeman,” Corpus said.
Badge
Witnesses earlier told police investigators that they saw the gunman had a badge tucked into his waistband.
The witnesses, however, could not determine whether the badge was that of a policeman, a security guard or a jail officer.
De la Victoria’s widow Evelyn said yesterday that her husband will be buried at the Talisay Cemetery on April 23.
A requiem mass will be held at the St. Joseph Parish Church in Talisay City, where de la Victoria had organized charity activities like feeding programs and mass weddings for couples who couldn’t afford one.
For his part, the mayor sent the councilors a text message on Good Friday to ask them for their opinion on his proposal.
“His plan is to rename the place in honor of Jojo and his fight against illegal fishing. I agree based on that reason and that would also signify the strong desire of the City to protect the environment, especially marine life,” said Carillo.
Seaside
Councilors Nestor Archival and Jocelyn Pesquera would not comment yet on the mayor’s proposal, saying they will just relay their opinion directly to the mayor.
For his part, Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem said he also agrees with the mayor and he will support whatever measure will be endorsed to the council for the renaming of Kawit Point.
“The area that will be named after him is by the sea and will remind the people of his legacy, which was to fight anything illegal in fishing and environmental protection. Naming it Jojo’s Point is a good way of making his legacy known to the people, especially in the future,” he said in a phone interview.
If the council approves the amendatory ordinance reducing the number of years required before a street or public place could be renamed, the council could fast track the renaming of a street in Barangay Zapatera after the late lawyer Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco.
In Lahug, the mayor also wanted Sunset Drive renamed after Alex Dy, a barangay tanod and deputized traffic enforcer who was shot dead by robbers in December 2004. (LCR/JST)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 17, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here.
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