Who’s next?

By Eva C. Visperas

I can’t help but cry whenever I interview families of slain Pangasinan officials.

I still recall when tears flowed down my cheeks when I interviewed a relative of slain Mayor Jose Peralta Sr.  of Balungao who was shot inside a church, when  I rushed to Tayug to interview a daughter of Tayug Mayor Guerrero Zaragosa  after he was killed inside a cockpit arena.

I cried when I interviewed a son of slain former San Nicolas Mayor Conrado Rodrigo who was killed inside the town multi-purpose, and when I talked to the wife of slain Mapandan Vice Mayor Podong Aquino who was shot in front of the town hall. Then recently when I interviewed Acting Mayor Julier Resuello after his father, San Carlos City Mayor Julian Resuello was shot dead inside the city auditorium late April.

There were others in between, though not elected officials whom I covered as part of my job but whose stories were similarly worthy of publication.

Then again last Thursday, I went to San Manuel town to interview the wife of slain Vice Mayor Bonie Apilado, who was also shot dead along Barangay San Vicente, Urdaneta City Wednesday afternoon.

Who might be next?

When will these killings end? How do the masterminds of these feel after executing their plans? Doesn’t their conscience bother them at all?

It breaks my heart whenever I cover such events so I always come prepared with two handkerchiefs and a pack of tissue. Friends notice I easily cry. I do, especially for people who are victims of senseless killings. Someone said “sanayan lang yan” (it just takes practice).

As I write this piece, I think about the future of the victims’ children.  Apilado for instance had two children, aged five and one, he left behind. I pity them.

With the latest killing, I suddenly recalled one mayor’s statement that after Resuello’s killing, three more are out to be liquidated as part of the  package  deal with the assassins. That’s silly, I thought then but today it looks like it’s partly true given what happened to Apilado.

Should the police be blamed for these incidents? I don’t think so. No amount of prevention or security can prevent a determined assassin from executing his target victim.

But the bereaved families are all crying for justice. They are hoping, if there’s still hope left, that these incidents will not merely be listed as another statistical data.

And if perhaps the victims don’t get justice in this part of Earth, I am certain that the Supreme Justice up there surely has a way of dispensing it.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/business-log/)

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