Kin of slain Negros board member remains seeking for witnesses

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Two weeks after the assassination of 5th district Board Member Renato Malabor, his family is still urging witnesses to come out and testify.

Isabela councilor Joselito Malabor, younger brother of the slain official, said on Sunday, July 12, that they are still seeking for people who could give justice to the killing.

“For those who have witnessed his murder, we ask for your help and support to lead us to the gunman and to the one behind his killing,” Malabor said.

Malabor and his bodyguard, Leody Jomilla, were gunned down outside a cockpit in Barangay Guintubhan, Isabela town on June 28.

“We noticed in the investigation, the gunman is still unidentified. That’s why we are asking help for those who have seen the incident, on how are brother was shot. We are asking you to come out so justice will be served,” Malabor said.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. earlier declared that the motive behind Malabor’s death is politically-motivated “because he is father of the province.” The family, however, is not fully convinced with this theory.

But the younger Malabor admitted that they knew about the death threat.

“We have advised him a long time ago to be careful but he didn’t take it seriously because he didn’t do anything wrong and that he was sincere in serving the people,” he said.

He added that they are confident the case will be solved in time, and that they are thankful for the effort of the authorities in the investigation.

Earlier reports said that there’s a P1 million bounty on the head of the board member’s murdered.

Senior Superintendent. Samuel Nacion, officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said that their investigation is still ongoing, but admitted that they “have no sufficient testimony and evidence to file a case.”

He added the task force create to investigate the killing has yet to coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation, which is also conducting a parallel investigation on the case.

He gave the assurance that they have beefed up the security in the town, and that they have granted the family’s request for an additional police detail for them.

Laid to rest

Meanwhile, more than 10,000 people in the province joined Malabor’s burial on Saturday and bid farewell to the slain board member.

A message, which read “Hustisya sa Kamatayon ni Board Nato (Justice for the death of Board Nato),” was printed on the black shirts of the family members, friends and supporters of the slain board member.

A mass was held at San Nicolas De Tolentino Parish Church before Malabor was laid to rest at Caram Public Cemetery. He was honored with a 21-gun salute.

As Malabor was laid to rest, his family is pushing for the appointment of his brother’s eldest son, Sangguniang Kabataan chairman Renato Jr., to replace him at the provincial board.

“We believe that his son can continue the good works of his father. We pray that there will be a smooth appointment,” the younger Malabor said.

Malabor’s party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, has yet to decide who will replace the slain official at the provincial board.

“We explained (our stand) to provincial chairman and Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco so he will endorse it for the approval of the president,” Malabor said. – Rappler.com