Bontuyan: “Comedian, provider, protector”

CEBU, Philippines — A “comedian, good provider, and protector,” is how Police Captain Delfin Bontuyan remembered by his family.

His only daughter, Christine Claire, remembered him as “overly protective” and “disciplinarian.”

A decorated police officer who rose from the ranks, Bontuyan planned to retire soon after his daughter’s graduation from law school. Christine is now a junior law student at the University of San Carlos.

Such plan that he will never see it through after two unidentified gunmen shot him dead Tuesday afternoon at the North Reclamation Area few meters away from the Mabolo Police Station.

The 55-year-old police official was on board his motorcycle and was at a red light on Pope John Paul Avenue when his assailants stopped beside him and shot him several times.

The hapless victim slumped on the hood of a taxi unable to fight back despite him having a gun. Bontuyan came from the hearing of a drug case he filed while he was still assigned in Cebu.

“This is what I always tell my friends, si Papa kay protective gyud na siya, I am the only child and babaye pa gyud ko,” Christine said.

 She said her father was also her number fan, motivator and critic at the same time. But despite his being a disciplinarian, Christine said her father never fails to cheer them up. She described her growing up with her father as “full of laughter.”

Amid crisis in their family, Christine said her father would always crack a joke to lighten the situation.

“Si Papa kay si-aw, niya komedyante gyud siya. Ganahan gyud na siya nga magkatawa mi ni mama. Busy man siya pero naa gyud siya time mupagaan sa sitwasyon namo,” she said. (Papa was a jolly person, a comedian who wants us to laugh. He finds time to lighten us up despite his very busy schedule)

Although her father was a jolly person, she finds him humble who never bragged about his achievements. She said they would often find out his achievements in media reports.

“Si Papa kay nadak-an nako na sayo kaayo molakaw sa trabaho, unya dugay sad kaayo mouli,” she said.

 Bontuyan was a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Criminology. He entered the police service in 2011 as an ordinary patrolman. He later rose from the ranks and became an official via lateral entry.

He was previously assigned in Talamban Police Station then Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 before he was ordered to report to Jolo, Sulu.  — FPL (FREEMAN)