Ex-Vice Gov shot in Occ. Mindoro

What motivates man to kill another man?

My father, apart-time broadcaster, sent me a text message imparting me that Atty. Crispin Perez, a broadcaster and former vice-governor of Occ. Mindoro, was shot at his home. He died while being taken to the St. Magdalene Hospital in San Jose, Occ. Mindoro.

In her morning program at the provincial radio station, Gov. Nene Ramirez Sato said the murder was politically motivated, noting that Atty. Perez was a fierce critic of the contract between OMECO and a ‘private power corporation’. The article at the Philippine Star did not name the private power corporation, but San Jose natives know it refers to IPC which Congresswoman Amelita Villarosa and her family owns.

Electricity had been a long problem of the province. The murder was preceded by the resignation of Engr. Alex Labrador from OMECO General Manager office due to pressure from consumers. Mr. Labrador had long been accused of mismanaging OMECO. He left the cooperative operating on a loss.

The last bit of information I gather from the IPC is that it is being pitched to Japanese investors.

The repercussion of the Atty. Perez’ murder is that: If this could happen to broadcaster who happens to be a former vice-governor of the province, it could happen, with an exponential chance, to any broadcaster or journalist with less political connections. A single murder exposes the fragile serenity of our hometown. True, we have violence in Aqua Saline, considered a CARP hot spot, and problems with bawling between fraternities. But they are never as violent as to shake a nerve in the collective innocence of our hometown.

The incidence also manifests the incompetence of the police force to secure the former Vice-governor from his assassin. He had been seen talking to Atty. Crispin before; suspicion should have arisen.

Police investigators have recovered two slugs of .45 Caliber from the place of incident. He also suffered two stab wounds aside from the two fatal bullet wounds. Perez was brought to St. Magdalene Hospital where he expired. Perez’ house is just few meters away from the San Jose Municipal Police Station. (source: Bombo Radyo)

But not in our quaint little town where everybody expects to live through the day unharmed… And the police men too busy having a drinking spree and singing karaoke to notice that just a few meters away someone is being murdered. geographical proximity to the police station surely does not guarantee safety. What? With the police too deaf and inept. Prove me wrong, but someone had been killed next to your lot. Murderers are not even afraid to tread your supposedly territory. There must be a reason: Complacency and incompetence.

I find it difficult to believe that police men are too busy and preoccupied directing traffic in Bonifacio street and Rizal street not to even have some of its men patrol the community. Problem with gas? What's the bicycle for? Follow the example of Jun Malabay. Forget cars, forget motorbikes. Just pedal it up like Mar Roxas do. With increase police visibility (what? you think you're visible enough? How come the murderer didn't see you? If he did, he certainly wasn't scared of you?) criminals are less likely to commit their little hobbies.