They were only invited for a vacation in Roxas City, say kin of 2 slain Masbateños
What appears as an invitation to spend a vacation in Roxas City turned into a bloody death for two Masbateños when they figured in a chance encounter with officials and operatives of the Regional Intelligence Office (RIO) 6 last week.
The families of two of the three slain victims from Masbate arrived in the city over the weekend and worked for the transfer of the kin's cadavers to their hometown.
Diosdado Emaas said his son Gerald, one of those killed, left their hometown for a vacation in the seafood capital only to find out that they went to Iloilo City and are now dead after they reportedly exchanged fires with the members of the police Wednesday night last week.
Diosdado said it was Hino Balacutan, another casualty, who invited them to spend time in Roxas City. Balacutan's wife is from Masbate. They have lived in Roxas City for almost three years.
Emaas, Balacutan and Samuel Sioco died Wednesday night in a chance encounter with the group of Supt. Samuel Nacion, chief of RIO-6, and Chief Inspector Sofronio Fusin at a Shell gasoline station in corner Delgado-Jalandoni Streets, City Proper. Nobody from the police was wounded when the exchange of fire happened.
Diosdado said his son was never involved in any criminal activities in Masbate. However, he admitted that his son was a former member of the New Peoples Army (NPA). He surrendered to the Philippine Army and later became a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU).
A CAFGU identification card bearing Emaas' name was recovered by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) at the crime scene.
Diosdado further said that their neighbors in Barangay Mabini-Balud, Masbate could attest that his son has no criminal records. His statement was contrary to the pronouncement of Civil Relations Service (CRS) chief Capt. Lowen Gil Marquez that Emaas went on absent without official leave (AWOL) and has possibly joined criminal groups.
Emaas, is the brother-in-law of another fatality Samuel Sioco, 28, also of Masbate. Like the elder Emaas, Sioco's brother Joel also denied the reports on the involvement of his brother in any criminal activities.
They blamed Balacutan for inviting the two to come to Roxas and end up dead in Iloilo City.
Sioco said his brother works in a farm and do not have firearms. Police recovered two handguns and a grenade from the possession of the three victims.