Martinez vows to help find killers of Gogong

CEBU, Philippines - One year since businessman Renerio “Gogong” Arrogante III was killed, Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez, Jr. assured the victim’s family that he will continue to help them seek justice for Arrogante.

Martinez, the former representative of the fourth district, expressed disappointment over the number of unsolved killings in his district.

The killings that remain unresolved include those of Arrogante, who was killed in Daanbantayan last March 9, 2008; Sta. Fe Mayor Roger Illustrisimo Sr., who was shot dead outside the Commission on Elections office at the height of the 2007 elections; and a certain Antonio Cometa, who was killed during the elections in 2004.  

Arrogante’s wife Juliet once again appealed to residents of Daanbantayan to help point her husband’s killers, and even the mastermind.

Arrogante’s family suspect that influential people were behind the killing and that it had something to do with Renerio’s active involvement in politics.  

The family of Arrogante now lives in Australia but they returned back to the country last March 9 to commemorate his death. They have also petitioned the Australian government to intervene in the investigation.   

Supporter and members of the “Justice for Gogong Movement” in Daanbantayan are planning to launch the “Peso-Peso Para Kang Gogong.”

The money that would be raised would be used to protect witnesses that would come forward to help in the case. — Jose P. Sollano/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)