|
Monday, July 10, 2006
Nalzaro: “Piya-et must die”
By Bobby Nalzaro
‘PIYA-ET must die’. This is the Cebuano "kanto (street) lingo" that describes the killing of a syndicate member, who squealed to authorities. This is probably the theory behind the death of whistleblower Ananias Dy. Dy was on his motorcycle last Saturday night at the intersection of Katipunan and Salvador Sts. in Labangon, Cebu City, when two motorcycle-riding men pulled up beside him and shot him.
Dy, together with co-employee Bernard Liu, dropped a "bombshell" few years ago, when they exposed the alleged illegal drug trade activities of their former employers, brothers Peter and Wellington Lim. Dy and Liu, who were reportedly the Lims' trusted men, later told a congressional inquiry that they were privy to the Lims' illegal activities because they were part of a group the brothers had sent to Hong Kong to buy shabu and smuggle it to the country.
In their testimonies, they claimed that Wellington and Peter would sometimes bring the drugs into the Mactan airport. They said the Lims placed the drugs with their golf paraphernalia. They didn't have to go through the normal inspection process as the Lims allegedly have contacts at the airport, immigration and customs offices. The congressional inquiry may have placed the Lims in a bad light and destroyed their reputation in the business community, but Dy and Liu's crusade failed to yield positive results. The Lims, who have varied business interests, have never been charged with drug trafficking.
In a sudden twist of events, the accusers became wanted persons for a while after a court issued a warrant for their arrest after the Lims charged them with libel. Police also raided Dy's house in Nivel Hills, Lahug for illegal possession of firearms. In the end, the government, especially the very people who earlier supported the two men and their cause, failed to provide them with protection. The whistle-blowers even had a hard time coming up with the money to post bail. Members of the congressional inquiry dropped them like two hot potatoes.
I don't know Dy's background, personally. But I remember him telling me during my radio program that he and Liu were forced to burn their bridges with the Lims when they found out that the brothers were planning to have them assassinated. All because they knew all about the Lims' alleged illegal activities, Dy said.
But as of this time, it would be unfair to conclude that the Lims masterminded Dy's murder. That is why we will challenge police to resolve the crime as soon as possible. Otherwise, Dy's death will only discourage other people who are willing to expose the illegal activities of influential and moneyed persons.
(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com / 091821198333)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 10, 2006 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
|
