A mother's anguish in Davao
By Carlos Isagani T. Zarate

MATERNAL instinct prompted Gloria Reynoso to suspect that something wrong had befallen her 18-year-old daughter Marjorie, a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) barangay chair in Maco, Compostela Valley province. Marjorie, together with Jonathan Benaro and Lito Doydoy, both leaders of the youth group Anakbayan, failed to go home last Sept. 19 after attending a party in Tagum City. Gloria tried several times to contact Marjorie's mobile phone but she could not be reached. Finally at past midnight, to Gloria's surprise, a male voice briefly answered from her daughter's mobile phone. The man was contemptuously laughing hard before switching off. A few minutes later, Gloria's phone rang and he heard the same "demon-like" sarcastic laugh at the other end of the line. She pleaded to the man: "Huwag ninyong galawin ang anak ko. Ibalik niyo siya, buhay man o patay."

Gloria's worst fear as a mother was confirmed last September 24. Banana plantation workers discovered four decomposing bodies -- a female and three males -- at a shallow grave in Compostela town. Relatives identified the decomposing bodies to be those of the missing youth leaders. The fourth was that of Ramon Regase Jr., the tricycle driver who was hired by the three to drive them home before they were abducted by armed men near the Hijo Banana Plantation, a few kilometers away from a police outpost in Tagum City. The dead bodies bore several hack and bullet wounds. Marjorie's severed head was found near the shallow grave.

The deaths of young Marjorie and her companions, and the anguish it brought upon their parents, their mothers especially, may have not generated as much attention as the ongoing Kris-Joey telenovela. But the incident is a chilling reminder that, under the so-called "strong republic" of President Macapagal-Arroyo, in many places outside the metropolis, some kind of terror reigns.

Initial investigation made by the human rights group Karapatan has led to suspicions that the military or, at least, its agents might be involved in the killings. The four victims were reportedly abducted by an armed group allegedly led by one Willie Javier who is said to be a member of the Military Intelligence Group (MIG).

As expected, the military denied outright the allegation, although, an unnamed military officer was quoted by the local press as saying that Javier was a "former MIG agent." Curiously, the abduction and summary executions of the "Maco Four" happened after the Maco local government, the army and police units, reportedly launched a joint crusade to counter the growing presence and influence of communist rebels in the area. It was also in Maco in September last year where NPA rebels, using Maco Mayor Miller Alaba as "shield and bait," made a daring raid on the municipal hall's police station, carting away more than 30 firearms.

Gloria Reynoso has expressed fears that the violent deaths of the "Maco Four" might just become additional cold statistics in the list of unsolved crimes in Southern Mindanao, particularly those involving members of militant groups. Until now, the parents of Benjaline "Beng" Hernandez are still waiting for justice. The 22-year-old lass was killed, also along with three other villagers, allegedly by a joint Army and Cafgu team last April 5 in Arakan Valley, North Cotabato. At the time of her death, Hernandez was the deputy secretary general of Karapatan-Southern Mindanao and vice president for Mindanao of the College Editors' Guild of the Philippines.

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In life and in death, slain broadcaster Juan "Jun" Pala proved to be a political cause celebre in Davao City. Pala's murder became the rallying point of local media persons and organizations alarmed and outraged by the increasing number of journalists being killed all over the country.

Pala's death has also ignited a new round of verbal tussles between two former friends and allies but now bitter political foes -- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and former mayor now Undersecretary Benjamin de Guzman. De Guzman has called for an independent investigation into the death of Pala -- also a former ally who turned bitter critic of Duterte -- and other summary executions in the city. His call prompted Duterte to accuse his former protege of riding on the issue to revive his political career.

In his weekly television program, Duterte, apparently irked by critics calling the city as "murder capital," openly admitted that a "reign of terror" does exist in Davao City. "Murder capital? Fine. Those criminals, kidnappers, holduppers, drug pushers from other places, come over because I'll finish you off. This is murder city," he said during his September 21 program, claiming that only criminals are getting killed in the city.

"Tolerating summary killings of alleged criminals is just a step away from summary killings for personal motives. It is an inevitable precursor to anarchy. Was Jun Pala a victim of this anarchy?" De Guzman wrote in his open letter to Duterte dated September 21.

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While in the middle of all this, the bereaved families of the murder victims sadly wait for justice.

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