"WE really did not know that Marvin had a dark past. Buotan kaayo siya since na-introduced sa among family back in Calamba. We're all really shocked and surprised of what happened."
Saying this, the mother of the alleged girlfriend of slain alleged criminal group leader Marvin Fajardo told SunStar Cagayan de Oro that her main concern now is to prove that her two daughters being implicated by authorities were innocent.
On Thursday, October 3, the combined forces of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Northern Mindanao, Laguna Police, Special Action Force, Philippine Army, and Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) stormed the rented apartment of Fajardo in Barangay Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro by virtue of an arrest warrant for direct assault.
The joint operation apparently went bloody when Fajardo allegedly resisted arrest, drew a gun and opened fire. He was killed when the police retaliated. Fajardo’s companions Andrew Redondo and a certain Adrian were also killed.
Their two other female companions Richelle, 25 and Irish N. Manaig, 31 were spared and are now in the custody of the CIDG-Northern Mindanao in Barangay Patag.
Richelle and Irish are the daughters of Sarah Naguita Manaig, 62, who immediately took the plane from Laguna in the company of her older sister Luzonia Naguita, 68 after learning the incident in Cagayan de Oro.
“Sigeng hilak walay mga ilis looy kaayo,” Sarah said of her daughters upon their visit at the CIDG headquarters.
To her knowledge, Sarah said Fajardo has polio in his early 40s, that h cannot move around without a wheelchair or no one to assist him.
"Maong na helper niya akong anak (Richelle) with a monthly salary of P10,000 kay polio man kadto siya unya operado pa sa ulo. I don't know kon nagka-relasyon ba kay four months sila sa Laguna and three months pa lang nga nag-uban sila diri sa Cagayan de Oro.
Sarah said they used to live in Cagayan de Oro before her marriage and have many relatives in the city.
"We trusted Marvin for my daughter to work as his helper or caregiver kay buotan gyod sa among pag-ila sa iya. Karon lang gyod mi nakabalo anang mga accusation sa pulis nga lage daw dautan nga tao. Na sorpresa kaayo mi," Sarah said.
As for Irish, Sarah said her older daughter just came from Japan who worked as a store employee. She returned home to formally informed them that she's about to marry her boyfriend.
After staying for days in Calamba, Sarah said Irish misses her sister so much that she decided to visit her in Cagayan de Oro.
"Kaslonon unya nibisita lang intawon sa iyang igsuon naapil pagyod among Irish," Sarah further told SunStar Cagayan de Oro.
Sarah said he could not blame either the authorities.
"Ila man kanang trabaho, basin adunay mga butang nga wala miy kasayuran. Ang amo lang gyod nga maluwas ang duha ka magsoon kay inosente sila. Maglisod sab mi pag pangita sa piyansa kay dako-dako man."
Sarah said her daughters could bail out for their temporary liberty in the amount of P66, 000 each.
Meanwhile, CIDG-Northern Mindanao regional chief Police Colonel Raymund Liguden said "di ko alam. Wala naman PWD (person with disability) card o ID na na-confiscate [Fajardo]. Pero it doesn't matter basta yung physical gumagana lahat. Hindi naging significant information na PWD siya [Fajardo]. If he had committed criminal activity, anong gagawin natin huhulihin natin sya. For as long as his hands are functioning well, he can walk, even if may defect siyang ganun, it doesn't mean hindered na siya sa paggawa ng criminal activity."
Fajardo's remains and the two other dead bodies were reportedly brought to Bollozos Funeral Parlor in Barangay Bulua. (SunStar Cagayan de Oro)