LARRY Buenafe, the fish vendor who was hit by a landmine planted by New People's Army (NPA) in Barangay Tigatto, Davao City died at 4:11 a.m., Thursday, May 4.
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO), in a statement, said Buenafe died after four days in comatose condition at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), Davao City. He also underwent head surgery while he was recovering at the hospital.
It was earlier reported in 1125khz DXGM GMA Super Radyo Davao that Buenafe suffered from severe head injury secondary to blast injury.
Last April 29, 2017 at around 5:30am, Larry was a victim of a landmine explosion following the attacks of the NPA to three Lorenzo-owned facilties.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio extended her sympathy to the family of the fish vendor who died on Thursday, May 4.
"It is a sad day for Davao City. I am sorry we lost Larry, a victim of delusional people living in an alternate universe who are now celebrating their so-called victory against oppression. But it is a celebration that means nothing except grief for the true victims," she said.
Duterte-Carpio said that Buenafe was "murdered by people who think that it will make a difference if they punish the Lorenzos by burning their factories."
"It did make a difference, but definitely not to the Lorenzos because their wealth is still there, tucked safely somewhere. Of course, their business issues do not in any way affect their lives," she said.
"The so-called punitive actions to dispense social justice did make a blowing, heartbreaking difference -- to a widow, to a daughter, to a son and to the employees of the company who lost their jobs," Duterte-Carpio added.
"Larry and his family, the employees who lost their jobs and their families -- these are the true victims of those attacks. They are the ones punished by a shady group who claims to be the true army of the people," she said.
Duterte-Carpio said the attacks on Saturday and the death of Larry today should always remind Dabawenyos of the "twistedness of an ideology and the monsters behind it."
"How they employ fear and terror in their attempt to cloak their insignificance and the obsolescence of their political belief," she said.
Duterte-Carpio said she called Larry's wife, Ruth, on Saturday morning to inform her of the status of her husband.
"I informed her that her husband was in the hospital. The couple never had a chance to talk because Larry fell into a coma. Earlier that day, one of the last text messages that Larry received from Ruth was a one-liner "I love you." The message was unread. Ruth never received any reply." Duterte-Carpio said.
DCPO, in an official statement issued Thursday, May 4, also extended their condolence to the family of Buenafe.
"Our heartfelt condolences, with this we again encourage everyone to let us condemn to the strongest possible terms the acts committed by the lawless armed group as equally reprehensible and unacceptable to our existing local and international humanitarian laws," DCPO said.
The DCPO also asked the public to exercise vigilance.
"We, therefore, ask you to exercise vigilance at all times and fight the increasing demands of this lawless criminals by simply being observant and alert. Say what you see at this point in time," DCPO said.