Mayor Sylvia Austria leads the necrological service for slain barangay chair Zoilo de Belen at the municipal hall of Jaen. Photo by Armand Galang
JAEN, Nueva Ecija – A call to prayer for an end to killings as a huge crowd attended the funeral Mass for a slain village chief on Friday.
Officiating the Mass for the late Barangay Lambakin chair Zoilo De Belen at the St. Augustine Parish Church here, Fr. Angelo Fernando reminded the people that everyone will certainly be judge by God.
“We can run away. We can hide from the judge of this world but not from the Lord,” Fernando said in his homily.
He then particularly warned the perpetrators: “Huwag niyong kakalimutan, pagdating ng panahon…lahat tayo huhusgahan at kung sinuman ang may gawa nito kay kapitan, I can assure you God will judge you fairly.”
“Sama-sama tayong manalangin na sana matapos sa bayan ng Jaen ang kultura ng pagpatay,” he urged the faithful.
As this developed, Mayor Sylvia Austria and sangguniang bayan member lawyer Sylvester Austria offered P100,000 and P50,000 from their personal funds, as reward for any information that will lead to the solution of the crime.
“Sa kasalakuyan ay wala pang kalinawan at kasalakuyan pa ang imbestigasyon ng mga authority,” the mayor said.
This municipality in Nueva Ecija’s fourth district is one of the perennial immediate areas of concern during election period for as long as residents here can remember.
Nueva Ecija police director Col. Rhoderick Campo said the Special Investigation Task Group De Belen are still looking at three angles that include politics, personal, and the family’s land dispute with another camp.
“Again, it’s too early to conclude that politics is the motive (of the killing),” Campo said.
De Belen was honored in a brief necrological program at the municipal hall and by the Knights of Columbus at the church.
