Killing of sister, hubby connected, teacher’s wife says

THE killing of high school teacher Serafin Villahermosa was related to the death of his sister-in-law, the victim's wife said yesterday.

"Connected sa pagpa-tay sa akong manghod (The killings are connected)," the wife, who requested not to be named, told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.

She said the killing of her husband was intended to hurt her.

She also believes the suspected mastermind of the murder of her sister, Lalaine Jore, got angry after she and his father filed a case against him.

Jore was slain inside her convenience store in Cebu City last Feb. 17, 2009.

Jore’s father submitted an affidavit to the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office last March 8, accusing the husband of former San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya of being the mastermind in the killing of his daughter last year.

In his affidavit, he alleged Ricardo Reluya “masterminded” the shooting to death of his daughter.

The killing was “motivated by jealousy and business interest,” his affidavit read.

But the Reluyas dismissed the complaint as “politically-motivated.”

Villahermosa’s wife said the case was “rashly dismissed” by a fiscal three days before the May elections.

Villahermosa’s wife asked Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Lani-o Nerez "to give full attention to the case" and give her family security.

Hinaot sulbaron dayon kay sa mahurot mi (I hope they will resolve the case and please don't wait for all of us to get killed)," she said.

Nerez said he can sign an order for the detail of security personnel for the victim’s amily.

If the need arises for a permanent security detail, Nerez said a request can be filed with the Police Security Protection Office.

The Jore family, who expressed fears for their lives since the killing of Jore in February last year, may also submit a letter-request to Nerez’s office.

Villahermosa’s wife, who testified against retired Philippine Army staff sergeant Filomeno Lastima Amistad, 43, as the alleged gunman in the murder of Jore, said her husband and the rest of the family have been getting threats.

A text message she saved in her cell phone read: "Barato nlang kinabuhi sa tao sa? Tgpila sa imung tan-aw? (Isn’t a man’s life already cheap? How much do you think does it cost?)"

She received the message last March 3, 2009.

She was at home with her children when she received the sad news of her husband’s death from another teacher.

“Wa ko kasabot (I couldn’t understand). Gikuhaan ko og (I was deprived of my) strength,” she said.

She then broke down for the loss of “the best husband and father.”

“Dili to siya init og ulo (He was not short-tempered). He’s God-fearing. He loved his kids so much,” she said.

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