Amid fear, 500 show up for Nonoy

AS they wept and cried for justice, residents of San Fernando, Cebu stood tall as they tried to overcome the fear looming over the southern town.

Filomino Leyson, the town’s purok federation president, encouraged residents to rise above their fears, saying it would be what slain Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president and Panadtaran Barangay Captain Ricardo “Nonoy” Reluya Jr. would have wanted them to do.

“We told the people that the recent killings should not leave us in fear. We should be more vigilant so peace would prevail,” Leyson said in Cebuano.

Black flags and tarpaulins calling for justice are displayed all over San Fernando as its people mourn the death of their first gentleman.

Some 500 town officials, municipal employees, supporters and residents wearing black shirts bearing the words “Justice for Nonoy Reluya” welcomed the remains of the village chief at the San Isidro Parish on Sunday, Jan. 27.

After the holy mass, Reluya’s remains were taken to the municipal sports complex where it would be open for public viewing until Jan. 30.

As of 4:30 p.m., Reluya’s family members had yet to visit.

Chief Insp. Lymel Pasquin, the town police chief, assured that those who would pay their last respects to Reluya would be “safe.”

“Over and above our deployment from the San Fernando Police Station, we have an augmentation of personnel from RMFB (Regional Mobile Force Battalion) from Sibonga who will secure the gym. We also have our PMFC (Provincial Mobile Force Company) that will oversee our patrol operations,” he said.

Pasquin added that another RMFB team has been tasked to handle checkpoints, especially in the town’s hinterland entry points.

On Jan. 22, San Fernando Mayor Lakambini “Neneth” Reluya and her companions in a white van were ambushed in Talisay City.

Although Neneth survived the attempt on her life, her husband “Nonoy” and two others were killed.

In a dialogue with Police Regional Office 7 Director Debold Sinas and Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas (Cebu, 1st district) last Jan. 26, the town’s barangay captains said they feared for their lives following the series of killings of local officials, which had resulted in the deaths of two colleagues.

Unidentified men also gunned down ABC vice president and Magsico Barangay Captain Johnny Arriesgado last Jan. 16.

Leyson lamented that while fear was inevitable, they remained hopeful that authorities would help them restore peace and order in their town.

“This problem does not just concern the police; everybody in San Fernando is involved. So we should all be united and help restore peace in our town.

We know the police are doing their best to allay our fears because it’s not easy to be in this situation,” he said in Cebuano.

Pasquin said they maximized police visibility, especially in the far-flung areas, after some residents reported the presence of suspicious individuals.

“Were intensifying our checkpoints and have encouraged the residents to report any suspicious persons or activities, even those they see online,” Pasquin added.