■ LARGO HAD FORESEEN HIS DEATH, ACCORDING TO HIS YOUNGER BROTHER
Jeson defends his slain brother, Jessie, on why the latter decided to kill 22-year-old John Ronli Calizar Villamater says that with Jessie’s death, the city police force will now focus on the manhunt of the other accused person
Jessie Largo refused to surrender because he was afraid he would die in custody. That was what he told his younger brother Jeson in the former’s house in Sitio Aromahan, Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City hours before he was killed by police last Monday afternoon. Jeson said he had been trying to convince his older brother to give himself up. The Largo family has already accept Jessie’s death. Jeson said Jessie rarely visited their parents’ house after the latter was released from the penitentiary in Leyte. And he had not visited since he killed John Ronli Calizar, Jeson claimed. With Jessie’s death, the Talisay City Police Station will focus on finding his accomplice.
We, the family of the slain John Ronli Calizar are saddened by the way Jessie Largo has to meet his end. He could have surrendered. We could have picked his mind as a victim of a society that has gone off. Or he could have enlightened the authorities about the dark world where he plays a huge part. True, in our rage, we wanted immediate justice to be served. But as time passed, we realized our problem is just a jagged tip of a submerged issue of crime, government accountability and community involvement. FERLIZA CONTRATISTA
Hours before he was killed, suspected hitman Jessie Largo talked with his younger brother, Jeson, in the former’s hideout in Sitio Aromahan, Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City.
In an interview with reporters, Jeson, 22, said he tried to convince his older brother to surrender so he could defend himself from the allegations. Jessie, however, refused.
“Ako na siya giingnan nga sur- render nalang. Pero dili gyud siya mo-surrender kay kasagaran sa mo-surrender kay mamatay gyud,” said Jeson, recalling his brother’s last words.
Jeson said that his family has accepted Jessie’ death last Monday late afternoon.
Jeson said that Jessie rarely came home after he was released from the penitentiary in Abuyog, Leyte after securing an appeal for a robbery with homi- cide case. That got worse when he was tagged in the killing of John Ronli Calizar. Jeson said that his brother had reportedly stayed with his friends.
Jeson said it was only a few weeks ago that he learned of his brother’s stay in Sitio Aromahan.
Jeson, however, defended his slain brother on the allegation that he started the fight against Calizar.
Jessie was accused of shooting and killing Calizar, son of Philippine Information Agency information officer Ferliza Contratista, last Aug. 25.
For Jeson, his brother did what he had to do after Calizar allegedly stole Jessie’s girlfriend (name withheld, pending her comment). Jeson said that Calizar already had a live-in partner and two kids,but the latter took Jessie’s girlfriend away from him.
“Katong iyang anak (Calizar) dili unta madisgrasya. Kibaw gyud siya nga naa siya’y duha ka anak. Wala lang gyud niya barugi iyang pagka-amahan. Pagkakita sa akong kuya nga nagdug sila sa uyab niya sa higdaanan, syempre lalaki baya, napatay gyud niya,” said Jeson.
Jeson also blamed the girlfriend for not defending his older brother, calling her “unfaithful.”
Talisay City Police Station Chief Jason Villamater said that with Jessie’s death, the city police force will now focus on the manhunt for the other accused person.
Villamater, however, clarified that the operation against Jessie was not because of the ultimatum given by the Cebu Provincial Police Office to improve its accomplishments, or all his personnel will be relieved to undergo a retraining program.
He said it was a result of the challenge he issued to his men.
“This is a challenge. If they want to prove their critics wrong, sacrifices have to be made. Magtrabaho tayo dito para ma- erase ‘ yung doubts at controversies ng Talisay police,” Villamater added. /