The mother of a known cattle rustler in a village in Inabanga, who was brutally hacked to death in Febraury, publicly called for justice for the death of her son, over five months after the killing as she claimed that the suspects threatened to kill her if she spoke up on the incident.
Cesaria Soco, 52, of Brgy. Santo Rosario, Inabanga over station dyRD, admitted that her son, Raymond, 34, committed crimes including cattle rustling but said that he did not deserve to be killed, as she also claimed that he was mentally ill.
“Maoy sakit niya manguha [farm animals]. Kung di pud siya tukaran, di pud siya manguha,” said Soco.
Soco claimed that her uncle, who she did not name, was behind the attack which was perpetrated by multiple men. She said that her uncle accused her son of hacking his carabao a few days before the murder incident.
“Og mo react kuno ko sa pagpatay sa akong anak, isunod pud kuno ming duha sa akong bana. Gibaharan mi adtong tag-iya sa kabaw,” said Soco.
According to Staff Sgt. Ronel Torrifiel, Soco has yet to report to the police who she suspected of being the behind the crime.
“Aho man sijang [Soco] gi estorya na ikaw man g’yuy naa sa inyo, kami mag-imbestigar mi og amoa separate, pero paniid pud mo diha og inyo kung unsa inyong mamatikdan na mga estorya. Kay kung unsa ang mga estorya manglusot ingna lang ko kay amoang imbestigaran,” said Torrifiel.
The police officer said that they were still without a suspect as none have come forward to offer testimonies including Soco. He however noted that the murder may have been due to a personal rift due to Raymond’s previous offenses.
“Lisod man jud kung walay nakakita… Mao na hilanglan gyud ta og aktibo na participation sa mga taga ilaha,” Torrifiel said.
“Sa akong kana-kana…murag personal grudge ni tungod kay kini si Raymond Soco daghan ni kaayog kaso unya naa man gud pud ni siyay deperensya pud. Sigeg pangihaw og mga mananap. Mga manok, mga baboy,” he added.
According to Soco, those who witnessed the killing of her son feared reprisal as they were also threatened by the suspects.
“Pero ang nagstorya nakakita man jud pud sila pero among pabarugon, di pud sila mo barog kay patyon pud,” she said.
Torrifiel meanwhile called on Soco to reengage with the police and relay information regarding the death of her son.
Raymond was killed on February 21. He was found by police wounded with several cuts all over his body and what appeared to be blisters from airgun shots. He was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival. (ad)