KAWIT, Philippines – Neighbors of slain shooter Ronald Bae are still in shock and disbelief over the carnage that he had unleashed in the relatively quiet village of Barangay Tabon 1 in this town yesterday morning.
Bae, called “Bossing†by his neighbors and dubbed the barangay’s “Robin Hood,†hardly fit the profile of a mass killer.
“He and his family were very kind to his neighbors. There were times that they would even share their food with us,†said Mila de Lina, 56, a longtime resident.
De Lina said Bae and his family are not original residents of the barangay. She said Bae’s family came from Kalsadang Bago in Imus and only settled in the barangay after buying a large bungalow.
De Lina described Bae’s family as “rich,†although nobody in the barangay could exactly say what kind of business he had, aside from raising and selling fighting cocks.
“He was so generous. You could approach him for money and he would be very generous,†she said.
De Lina recalled Bae ran for barangay chairman in 2010 but lost. He then left the barangay with his family. He was never seen again until last Jan. 1.
“He arrived in a taxi. It was unusual as he would often arrive here with several companions,†she said.
“He arrived alone and there was something different about him.â€
According to De Lina, Bae did not speak to his neighbors when he arrived and just spent time with John Paul, the caretaker of his house.
She said the village was shocked at what Bae did.