Manila Bulletin
Philippines
A year after the tragedy, family of slain cop in Mabolo says justice still eludes them
Philippines
A year after the tragedy, family of slain cop in Mabolo says justice still eludes them
A year after the tragedy, family of slain cop in Mabolo says justice still eludes them
Published May 21, 2020 12:00 am
By Calvin Cordova
CEBU CITY — Exactly one year ago yesterday, May 20, Police Capt. Delfin Bontuyan was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants just a few meters from a police station.
The Bontuyan family, wife Myra Bontuyan and daughter Christine Claire Bontuyan offered a flower to the ambush site of P/Capt. Delfin Bontuyan in J. Luna Cebu City, as they cannot visit the grave in Mandaue City due to ECQ restrictions on May 21, 2020. Delfin Bontuyan was gunned down a year ago May 21, 2019 by still unknown riding in tandem in Cebu city. (Juan Carlo de Vela / MANILA BULLETIN)
The police officer’s family commemorated his first death anniversary by reiterating their call for justice.
Christine Claire, Bontuyan’s daughter, admitted that the family has been unsatisfied with how the police have been handling her father’s case.
“I cannot understand why until now there is no progress. There’s still no lead as to who are responsible. Basically, the people behind my father’s death are still roaming around freely,” a tearful Christine said in a virtual press briefing.
Bontuyan, a former operative of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Central Visayas (CIDG 7), was driving a motorcycle on his way home when the attack took place a few meters from the Mabolo Police Station. He suffered 11 gunshot wounds, four in the head and seven in the body.
Police Col. Josefino Ligan, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said the Special Investigation Task Group continues to look into the murder.
Christine said she is disheartened that justice has yet to be served, when her father fought hard against injustices when he was still alive.
“It is disheartening and sad to think that Papa is part of the list of the many unsolved deaths,” Christine said.
The Bontuyan family commemorated the police officer’s death anniversary by visiting the spot where the crime happened.
Since the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) currently in place has prevented the family from visiting Bontuyan’s grave in Mandaue City, the Bontuyans, who live in Cebu City, mounted a replica of the police officer’s grave in front of their house where loved ones and friends offered prayers.
“It’s been a year since my father was killed. It never easier. What happened remains fresh in my mind,” said Christine.
Looking back, Christine said she and her father had so many plans, and these would no longer be realized.
Christine said it has been her father’s dream to see her become a lawyer.
The 25-year-old Christine was supposed to take the Bar this year but the examination was cancelled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“He kept telling me that “once you become a lawyer, I can die already” and it upset me hearing him say that because I cannot imagine seeing him go. Each time I think that I am already set to graduate, I feel empty. It is very sad that he was not able to see the fulfillment of his dreams,” Christine said.
Christine said that she, as well as her mother, terribly misses her father’s presence each day.
“My mom dresses up our pillows using Papa’s clothes. We also have a mannequin that my mom dressed up to look like Papa just to cure our longing,” Christine said.
Their longing grows each day, especially when Christine sees her father’s belongings.
“I go through his items, his basketball uniforms, and I see the CIDG logo with the ‘we seek the truth,’ and now there’s nothing more than we are longing for but the truth,” she said.
When asked if the quest for justice has become hopeless, Christine said: “I wouldn’t say hopeless, circumstances aren’t in our favor right now, but Papa always me life is a cycle.”
The pain of losing her father in such an unfortunate circumstance is unimaginable, Christine said. She hopes that families would never go through what her family has been through.
She admitted that staying strong has become difficult for the family especially since progress with the police investigation “is little to none.”
“As much as people want me to stay strong… but how do you become strong when 365 days have passed but the people responsible for my father’s death are still nowhere to be found?” Christine said.
The Bontuyan family, wife Myra Bontuyan and daughter Christine Claire Bontuyan offered a flower to the ambush site of P/Capt. Delfin Bontuyan in J. Luna Cebu City, as they cannot visit the grave in Mandaue City due to ECQ restrictions on May 21, 2020. Delfin Bontuyan was gunned down a year ago May 21, 2019 by still unknown riding in tandem in Cebu city. (Juan Carlo de Vela / MANILA BULLETIN)
The police officer’s family commemorated his first death anniversary by reiterating their call for justice.
Christine Claire, Bontuyan’s daughter, admitted that the family has been unsatisfied with how the police have been handling her father’s case.
“I cannot understand why until now there is no progress. There’s still no lead as to who are responsible. Basically, the people behind my father’s death are still roaming around freely,” a tearful Christine said in a virtual press briefing.
Bontuyan, a former operative of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Central Visayas (CIDG 7), was driving a motorcycle on his way home when the attack took place a few meters from the Mabolo Police Station. He suffered 11 gunshot wounds, four in the head and seven in the body.
Police Col. Josefino Ligan, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said the Special Investigation Task Group continues to look into the murder.
Christine said she is disheartened that justice has yet to be served, when her father fought hard against injustices when he was still alive.
“It is disheartening and sad to think that Papa is part of the list of the many unsolved deaths,” Christine said.
The Bontuyan family commemorated the police officer’s death anniversary by visiting the spot where the crime happened.
Since the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) currently in place has prevented the family from visiting Bontuyan’s grave in Mandaue City, the Bontuyans, who live in Cebu City, mounted a replica of the police officer’s grave in front of their house where loved ones and friends offered prayers.
“It’s been a year since my father was killed. It never easier. What happened remains fresh in my mind,” said Christine.
Looking back, Christine said she and her father had so many plans, and these would no longer be realized.
Christine said it has been her father’s dream to see her become a lawyer.
The 25-year-old Christine was supposed to take the Bar this year but the examination was cancelled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“He kept telling me that “once you become a lawyer, I can die already” and it upset me hearing him say that because I cannot imagine seeing him go. Each time I think that I am already set to graduate, I feel empty. It is very sad that he was not able to see the fulfillment of his dreams,” Christine said.
Christine said that she, as well as her mother, terribly misses her father’s presence each day.
“My mom dresses up our pillows using Papa’s clothes. We also have a mannequin that my mom dressed up to look like Papa just to cure our longing,” Christine said.
Their longing grows each day, especially when Christine sees her father’s belongings.
“I go through his items, his basketball uniforms, and I see the CIDG logo with the ‘we seek the truth,’ and now there’s nothing more than we are longing for but the truth,” she said.
When asked if the quest for justice has become hopeless, Christine said: “I wouldn’t say hopeless, circumstances aren’t in our favor right now, but Papa always me life is a cycle.”
The pain of losing her father in such an unfortunate circumstance is unimaginable, Christine said. She hopes that families would never go through what her family has been through.
She admitted that staying strong has become difficult for the family especially since progress with the police investigation “is little to none.”
“As much as people want me to stay strong… but how do you become strong when 365 days have passed but the people responsible for my father’s death are still nowhere to be found?” Christine said.