Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Monkayo mayor denies hand in series of shooting incidents
By Ben O. Tesiorna
MONKAYO Mayor Manuel Brillantes Jr. vehemently denied any hand in the series of shooting incidents in Compostela Valley.
Brillantes said that though he was not mentioned in the article published in Sun.Star Monday it was clear that he was the one being referred to.
"As a public official, I understand the price that goes with being in public office. But being there does not mean that anybody can just poke fun at me, insult my sensibility, put some words into my mouth, and be accused of fabricated crimes," Brillantes said in a letter sent to Sun.Star Monday.
"If the parties cited as sources have proof to show I was involved, the proper forum is not media but the court. Let us stop creating charges in order to make a sensational write-up," the mayor added.
Though not accused upfront, Brillantes was suspected by some as having a hand in the murder of former Monkayo kagawad Ernesto Fernandez and the attack against barangay kagawad Gerardo "Gerry" Cajes last week.
Representative Manuel "Way Kurat" Zamora reportedly demanded for the disbandment of the armed group created by Brillantes for his peace and order program.
Records show that there are at least 30 shooting incidents in Monkayo from January to September this year while 16 were recorded in 2005.
Mt. Diwata Barangay captain Franco Tito, though he did not cite reasons, accused Brillantes of being behind the "reign of terror" in their town.
Tito represents the small-scale miners in Mt. Diwata who are always up against the JB Mines Management Corporation (JBMMC), a mining firm founded by Brillantes's brother, former Monkayo Mayor Jose Brillantes, who was slain in Davao City a few years back.
Tito urged the people to come out and denounce the series of killings not just in Monkayo, but also in the whole province.
"I call on the people of Monkayo to unite and condemn these killings in our town. The killings will not stop for as long as we keep our silence," Tito said.
Two of the victims in the series of shooting incidents in Compostela Valley are Tito's close friends.
"Who else will be killed tomorrow? When will this end. I can no longer stand the silence. I call on Governor Jose Caballero, as the father of the province, and a close friend of the Brillanteses, to do something to save the people of Monkayo from this reign of terror," Tito said.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (October 10, 2006 issue)
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