Outrage

Dumaguete, the city of gentle people, is no more. The killing the other week of lawyer Archer Baldwin Martinez is the latest in a series of unsolved murders and homicides that has kept the population in a state of anger and anxiety. Attorney Martinez, IBP Lawyer Chapter vice-president, was shot three times in his office in broad daylight, bringing the number of unsolved extrajudicial killings to 19 this year. Last year’s ten murders and 15 homicides — a total of 25 — are unsolved. Two days ago, two students gunned down by motorcycle-riding men are fighting for their lives, if they have not died already, at this writing.

Martinez was an IBP Lawyer Chapter vice-president, and a former Rotary Club president. He finished the AB major in economics course at the Ateneo University in Quezon City, and law at Silliman University. He is survived by wife Gina, and four children. The outpouring of sentiments came because, as practicing lawyer Coleta M. Aranas described him, “he was well-loved. He helped me with a lot of human rights violations cases, all pro-bono.”

The local air and cable TV stations and local papers, headed by The Negros Chronicle, broadcast the details of his killing and the sentiments of city residents. The Diocese of Dumaguete, through the Pastoral Council and the civilian organizations of Renewed communities or the DORM-C, issued a statement condemning the killing, and wrote Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima to order the speedy investigation of the “ghastly execution” of Archer. Members of the IBC and lawyers attended standing-room only memorial services and flocked to the cemetery for his burial rites.

The IBP local chapter raised half a million pesos from their attorneys’ fees, the city government P300,000, and the provincial government P100,000 for Task Force Archer which the lawyers formed to help in the current investigation leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspect, and the possible mastermind.

The Negros Chronicle August 14 issue reported that Vice-Mayor Alan Gel Cordova uncovered 18 unsolved extrajudicial killings, that of Atty. Martinez being the 19th. He pictured the uneasy peace in the city with the following discoveries: 140 unsolved robberies, or almost two robberies every three days in the city alone; 200 theft cases, or once every three days; 60 carnappings. “Why is the police saying all is well and under control?” asked the newspaper writer, who challenged the city mayor, Manuel Sagarbarria, who “is the city commander in chief, and the buck stops at city hall by command responsibility. He must now coordinate all efforts, not just pass the buck to others, but he himself must lead — as his election promise — in fighting and minimizing, if not eliminating, crime in our midst.”

A cartographic sketch of the gunman was splashed in the local papers.

A live chick was placed on top of the slain lawyer’s casket and buried along with the lawyer’s remains August 14. This folk practice, we were told, makes the killer uneasy, and, as happened in many instances, the killer submits himself to authorities and confesses to having committed a crime.

The talk in town is that the mastermind in Archer’s killing is a “big shot” from a well-known political family. Perhaps two chicks should have been buried with Archer: one to cause the killer to break down, and the other to make the mastermind go mad. The suspected mastermind is rumored to have been responsible for the death of his father’s girlfriend: another unsolved crime.

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As I am related to an Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity member, I get invited to most of the brods’ social functions, which are always fun and demonstrates the strong bond among the members. Sunday evening, hubby picked me up at the airport — I had attended a book launch in Dumaguete City — two hours late because the PAL plane arrived in Dumaguete two hours later than scheduled. At the Alabang Country Club, the “cream of the cream” was already agog over the performance of the eternally-good-looking chanteuse Pilita Corrales, who sang old and Visayan songs and numbers composed by Dick Zamora (Batch 1949). The occasion, in fact, was to give recognition to the contributions made to the frat by Dick, and two other senior brods: Mart Martell, ’47, a former advertising man who now lives in the US, and former Philippine ambassador to Washington DC, Willy Gaa, ’66. The dinner party was sponsored by Claudio Altura (’54) and his wife Cristina Romero.

Among those who attended were Sigma Deltans Cely Alama-Corpus and former Antique Gov. Sally Perez; Dr. Nanding Pieded, ’52; new Philippine National Bank president Lito Pedrosa, ’62; Tony Ocampo and wife; Southern Philippines Development Authority Chairman Saeed A. Daof, ’52; USPAA president Erdie Malveda, ’69; Ramon Pedrosa, ’49, USPAA Chairman Eny Laserna, ’62; Linda Gaa, Nenette Puyat; Vic Puyat; Danding Taylor, ’48; Tong Puno; Willy Fernandez, ’69; Benny Fulgencio, ’65; Danny Gozon, ’67; Gary Tiongco, ’62 and wife Gladys; Ramon Maronilla, ’55, and wife; Bong Uichangco and his mother and brother; Cito Avecilla; Bobby Mercado; Ivan Henares ’98, and Illustrious Fellow Benjo Delarmente.

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On a happier note about Dumaguete, this is the place second closest to my heart (the first one being Gingoog City). I enjoyed for the third time, the hospitality of my good friend and lively character, Aning Sy, where I spent three nights along with my college editor, and now famous Dumaguete lawyer Colet Aranas. Had dinner with the just as famous twins, Lorna Pena-Reyes Makil and Myrna Pena Reyes Sweet. It’s such fun to be with the twins, and we spent the evening, at a nice dinner at Laguna Café, talking about our loves and lives, some crazy experiences, too. An hour was spent with National Artist for Literature Edith L. Tiempo at her home outside of the city, with a magnificent view of the sea. Colet and I walked along the famous boulevard and had breakfast at the old cafeteria. Attended Sunday service at Silliman University church, whose speaker was the vibrant Rev. Bernadette Amistoso-Morales. This church was where I spent many hours listening to the country’s best church choir, and to my heart aching to know the Lord and make him known.

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My email: [email protected]