Call for help
BECAUSE of our radio program, “Frankahay Ta!,” I am usually already awake at 5 a.m. Yesterday was an exception; I overslept and would have been late at the station were it not for the persistent ringing from my mobile phone. The caller was Menel Betonio, mayor of our native town of Pio V. Corpus, Masbate.
“My wife has been shot and is in the hospital with her companion who was also wounded,” he said. “I want to make sure that they are safe. Please help me.” It was 5:35 a.m.
I met Mayor Menel only once although he’d text me every now and then to let me know that he and our town mates are listening to “Frankahay Ta!.” She was with a lady when we were introduced by Jun Gonzales, a mutual friend. I wonder if she was the one who was shot.
Because I did not know anyone in the Cebu City Police office, I texted Col. Pat Comendador, the Cebu provincial police director, to relay Mayor Menel’s request. Later, I called Rene Mercado, a friend who also happens to be the closest adviser of Mayor Mike Rama. Through the efforts of both, policemen were sent to Chong Hua Hospital to guard the victims.
It turned out that help came too late for Crisanta Lauro. At 6:32 a.m., she expired, according to a text message from Rene. My Sun.Star Cebu colleague, Bobby Nalzaro, confirmed Rene’s message.
It is too early to conclude that the killing is politically motivated but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is, given the violent po- litical climate in the province of my birth. I can imagine the people of Pio V. Corpus being gripped with fear again. We have witnessed more than enough political executions in the past but we have not been numbed by it. It still scares us.
I went home to Pio V. Corpus two years ago, my first homecoming to the town of my birth in 16 years. It was the Holy Week and the elections were still two years ago but politics was on the menu wherever I went. Even in church!
The mayor at that time was still Diomedes Amaroto, my high school classmate. Diomeng would, however, later resign, paving the way for his vice mayor, Menel, to succeed him. Menel’s grandfather and namesake also served as the town mayor. My late father worked with him as his chief of police.
The younger Menel must have been a toddler when I left Pio V. Corpus and settled in Cebu, because I have very little recollection of him. But he strikes me as a good man and very respectful of his elders.
He is allied with Masbate second district Rep. Tony Kho, a former governor who is challenging the re-election bid of Gov. Rizalina “Dayan” Seachon Lanete. Dayan is also from Pio V. Corpus. We grew up together and remain very good friends.
I spoke to Dayan when I went home. I dropped by her house on our way to the next town of Cataingan for our return trip to Cebu and the conversation unavoidably drifted to local politics. I had earlier spoken to another high school classmate, Teofila “Pilang” Cabatingan, and after the customary small talk about old friends, the conversation also drifted to politics. Dayan and Pilang are in rival camps so you can imagine what one talked about the other.
This is the reason I have not visited Pio V. Corpus very often. I do not want to be caught in the middle of a political quarrel. I consider all my town mates my friends. That is why when, once upon a time, Dayan asked me to come home and run for mayor, I said no immediately without even asking if she was serious or not. I wanted to spare my friends the agony of choosing between voting for or against me.
I have consciously avoided any association with the politics of my town. It now seems, with Crisanta’s death, that the politics of violence of the province of my birth has been transported to Cebu City.
I pray to God that it is not so.