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Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Boy wants father's killers dead
By Aurea A. Gerundio
"I saw my father shot to death and I can recognize the face of his killer if I see him again."
Thus said the 10-year-old son of a suspected thief who was killed last Monday, just a few minutes after he and another suspect were released from the Heinous Crime Investigation Section.
The boy is the son of Wilfredo Gabia, who was shot dead with another suspect by two unidentified gunmen riding on a motorcycle without a plate number.
Davao City councilors expressed dismay over the killings.
"That would not speak well of the city considering there is already an increase in the police force," Librado said.
She called the attention of Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Conrado Laza to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident.
Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Duterte remained calm on the execution of the pickpocket artists.
On suspicion that members of HCIS perpetrated the killing, Mayor said, "Well, that's their suspicion.
If there were groups that complained that the previous salvage victims were minors, those who were killed recently were not minors, he said.
"Kit-an man gyud nako nga gibaril sa ulo akong papa. Gipatay nila akong papa (I really saw my father shot in the head. They killed my papa)," the boy wailed.
The boy condemned the perpetrators and said he had known his father as a good man. "Dili gani na mamunal sa akoa akong papa," he said.
The child's mother said the boy was really close to his father. "Mas suod gyud na siya sa iyang papa kaysa sa akoa mao nga sakit kaayo sa iya ang nahitabo. Nakakita pa gyud siya. Tupad man na sila sa sakyanan pagbaril sa akong bana," Gabia's wife said.
The wife, who refused to be identified, said Noel Rabia, the other theft suspect killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen, even joked at her husband if he had already worn a bullet-proof vest as they were about to leave the HCIS office.
Gabia's son said that the motorcycle of the gunmen looked like the motorcycle he saw parked just outside the HCIS office.
But at his young age, the boy seemed to realize the danger of knowing too much about a crime.
"Muhilom na lang ko ani kay basi pati ako initan, unya patyon pud nila (I won't talk any further as the suspects might kill me)," he said.
The boy said he would never forget that his father embraced him tightly when the gunmen peppered him and his companion with bullets.
"Iya ko'ng gigakos ug maayo para di siguro ko maigo sa uban pa nga bala (He embraced me tight in an effort to protect me from the bullets)," he recalled.
The boy hopes the police will conduct a thorough investigation of the case.
"Gusto nako madakpan pud ang nipatay sa akong papa o kaha mamatay sab sila
(I want those who killed my father captured or killed)," he said.
(June 18, 2003 issue)
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