Though just a lowly president of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) here at present, Bernabe has vowed to pursue a career in law and politics — all in the name of his slain grandfather and his spirit.
Mayor Guerrero Zaragoza was killed by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels last Sunday after attending a cockfight that he sponsored at the Tayug Coliseum. He died from gunshot wounds in the left eye and abdomen.
Zaragoza was this town’s mayor from 1986 to 1998. He was elected anew in 2001 after a short sabbatical from politics.
But Bernabe, only a junior at the De La Salle University, admitted he felt fear when he heard that his lolo was slain.
His initial reaction was to resign from his SK post. But after weighing things, he realized that walking away from public service was like killing his departed lolo a second time.
"If I do that (resign), patay na nga yung lolo ko, para kong pinatay ulit kasi ang buhay niya nasa pulitika, sa paglilingkod sa tao (If I resign, that means I killed him again because his life was in politics, in serving the people)," he said.
He added: "He put me there. If I resign, that’s an admission that the Zaragoza family is dead in politics. He would not be happy about it."
Bernabe recalled that his grandfather wanted to become a lawmaker, but circumstances prevented the mayor from gaining a seat in the House of Representatives. Thus, he wanted Bernabe, his favorite apo, to become a lawyer so he could be better prepared for legislative work.
Bernabe said his tenure as SK president here is providing him some training for his lolo’s dream. But the dangers of politics and his grandfather’s brutal killing still haunt him from time to time.
"Mahirap magtapang-tapangan. Kung nakaya nila yung matanda, ano pa ako? Napakadali ako (It’s hard to pretend that I’m not afraid. If they were able to kill the old man, they can get me, too. I’m an easy target)," he said.
The slain mayor, a known disciplinarian and noted for implementing strict ordinances, was always surrounded with heavily armed guards and was allegedly perceived by some quarters in this town as a warlord. Detractors even dubbed him as Guerra or war.
Bernabe, however, said that despite Mayor Zaragoza’s strictness and heavy guard, he was a good man in heart and deed.
"Matapang daw siya. Ang tingin nga ng mga pulitiko sa kanya kriminal eh. Hindi totoo yun. Napakabait na tao yan (He was seen as a tough guy. Politicians even perceive him as a criminal. That is not true. He was a kind man)," he said.