THE family of the late Philippine Air Force (PAF) Staff Sergeant Mark Herbert Oberes has sought President Rodrigo Duterte’s help to arrest the four remaining suspects in the officer’s murder.
The appeal came a day before Duterte’s scheduled visit to Cebu today.
Diane Oberes, Oberes’ widow, said they are seeking President Duterte’s help as Edna Cabañog, the alleged mastermind behind Oberes’ death, and three of her cohorts are still at large.
“To our beloved President, manghinaot unta ko nga mahatagan ug justice ang kamatayon ni Mark kay dili makatarunganon (I hope that Mark’s death will be dealt with justice. It wasn’t right). Regardless of their status, those who killed him must pay for their crimes,” Oberes’ widow told reporters yesterday.
Diane and her family buried Oberes in a private cemetery in Barangay Vito in Minglanilla town at 10 a.m. yesterday. Before the burial, a requiem was held at the Sanctuary Funeral Garden chapel. Personnel of the Philippine Air Force offered a 21-gun salute for Oberes after he was laid to rest.
Diane said they also plan to question the motion of Joshua Garciano and his offer to turn state witness against Cabañog.
Garciano, one of two suspects behind Oberes’ murder, filed a motion through his lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo asking the court to make him a state witness.
Bert Padilla, the Oberes family’s spokesperson, said that aside from seeking President Duterte’s help, they also sent a letter to the Office of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino.
Padilla said they are seeking Dino’s help to compel law enforcers to expand their search for Cabañog and his cohorts, who are reportedly hiding in Negros Oriental.
Oberes, 37, was shot then burned to death inside his car in Barangay Valencia, Carcar City earlier this month.
Oberes was reportedly visiting the house of Resamie Cabañog, Edna’s daughter and his ex-girlfriend, in Talisay City when he was mauled and shot by Edna and three of her cohorts.
Edna and her cohorts then allegedly brought Oberes’ body to Carcar City, where they torched his car along with him. While Edna and the others fled, reportedly to Negros Oriental, Resamie and Garciano were arrested just hours after Oberes’ murder.