THE Davao City local government continues to support the education needs of the three children of fish vendor Larry Buenafe, who died because of the burning of the Lapanday box plant by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Mandug, Davao City last April 29, 2017.

This was mentioned by City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio during the first anniversary celebration of Peace 911, the city’s initiative to end communist rebellion, last May 25, 2019 in barangay Malabog, Paquibato District.

Larry Timbal Buenafe, 34, had the misfortune of driving by Purok 8 in Mandug enroute to Tigatto to deliver fish when a landmine planted by the NPA against the reinforcement troops of the Task Force Davao exploded at 5:30 a.m. a few hours after the Lapanday box plant was torched by the rebels.

“Mabuhi unta ‘to kung dili tungod sa iyang faith na bawal mag blood transfusion. So he left one widow and three children na gagmay, na hangtud karon ginasuportahan nato para sa ilahang pag-eskwela (He would have lived had it not been for his faith that prohibits blood transfusion. So he left a widow and young children, who up to now we are supporting for their education needs),” Duterte-Carpio said.

The mayor recalled how she watched Buenafe struggle to live while at the emergency room of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

“Kit-an nako ginatabang sya sa mga doctor, nakit-an nako naga-struggle gyud sya. Lisod siya og ginhawa, gasuka og dugo. Naluoy ko sa iyaha because kinsa ba gud gusto mag-struggle, magsakit na ing-ana. Ikaduha, wala syay kauban (I saw him being attended to by the doctors, I saw how he struggled. He was having difficulty breathing, he was vomiting blood. I pitied him because who would want to struggle that way? Also, he was all alone),” the mayor said.

Buenafe’s wife had no idea something bad had befallen him. Her last message to Buenafe was, “I love you.” Duterte-Carpio upon seeing this one and only message for the day in Buenafe’s cellphone knew that was his wife, and so she called her up and informed her that she will be picked up so she can go to her husband at the SPMC.

Buenafe fell in a coma and died five days later, May 4, 2017.

Buenafe’s death sparked a resolve to end the communist rebellion in Paquibato, which brought about Peace 911 in May 2018, a year after Buenafe’s death.

Duterte-Carpio acknowledged the gains of Peace 911, admitting that somehow peace has finally been won in Paquibato, although she knows that the rebels are just waiting in the wings to destabilize the situation once more.

The city government has consistently given long-term support to victims and families of victims of terrorist attacks including those of the Davao International April on March 4, 2003, the Sasa Wharf bombing on April 3, 2003, and the September 2, 2016 bombing at the Roxas Night Market.