ILOILO City – A barangay captain was shot to death by unidentified riding-in-tandem assailants in Barangay Malitbog Centro, Calinog, Iloilo around 8:45 a.m. yesterday.
The 49-year-old Julie Catamin, village chief of Barangay Roosevelt, Tapaz, Capiz, sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
He was on his way home after visiting a relative in Bingawan, Iloilo when attacked, according to Police Captain Genesis Roque, Calinog police chief.
Catamin was rushed to the Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital in Calinog but the attending physician declared him “dead on arrival.”
“The victim was shot at the back portion of his body. The suspects used a .45-caliber pistol based on the empty shells we recovered,” Roque said.
As this was being written, the police was yet to identify the gunmen or ascertain their motives.
DEATH THREATS?
Prior to Catamin’s death, Roque said the victim “confessed” to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the police that he “had received death threats” from alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
The victim hosted a medical mission of the Army last week, Roque added.
“The victim was very supportive of the police and the military. Kung supportive siya sa atin, sino ang guwawa ng krimen?” Roque said.
CATAMIN AND THE DEC. 30 RAIDS
Human rights group Panay Alliance Karapatan condemning Catamin’s killing.
Citing statements from residents of Barangay Roosevelt before the shooting, Karapatan said certain people were looking for Catamin. They allegedly introduced themselves as members of the Criminal Investigation and Detective Group (CIDG).
According to Karapatan, the victim reportedly had a conversation with a certain “Army Lieutenant Estrada, head of military detachment based in Haycon, Calinog, Iloilo” on Feb. 25.
Catamin was told that his residents were “being used by the rebels” thus he should “stop supporting them.”
Karapatan added that Catamin was one of those who revealed the supposed “planting of evidence” by the police forces during the Dec. 30, 2020 synchronized police and military operations in Tapaz, Capiz and Calinog, Iloilo.
Thirteen individuals died and 17 others arrested.
“Si kapitana ang isa man sa mga nagbuyayag sa ginhimo nga pag-planted sang mga katapo sang CIDG, pulis kag militar sa iya pila ka residente,” Karapatan said.
Panay News tried to reach Lieutenant Gervacio Balmaceda, CIDG-Iloilo chief, for a comment but he was not answering his phone.
‘REDS DID IT’
Meanwhile, the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) of the Philipine Army said they believed the rebels “were the ones” behind the killing.
The victim, together with the residents of his barangay, declared the rebels persona non grata on Sept. 15, 2020, the 3ID pointed out.
“This maybe the reason why he was killed They knew that the victim was supportive of the government forces,” said its spokesperson Major Cenon Pancito III.
The 301st Infantry Brigade (310IB) echoed 3ID’s claim./PN
According to Brigadier General Marion Sison, Catamin had supported the retooled community support program advocacy of the 301IB.
“He (Catamin) has worked with our soldiers in bringing peace to his barangay and the people of Tapaz,” Sison said.
“We have lost a peace advocate. We have lost an ally. But his legacy of peace shall always be remembered,” he added./PN
