Widows in Kananga Murders Call for Justice

Widows in Kananga Murders Call for Justice

 November 15 began like any other day for the families of Julio Borromeo and Sofronio Cortez. Borromeo was even excited because his work with Leonardo Co would be his highest paying job so far. But by the afternoon of that day, the lives of their families changed forever.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL

Bulatlat.com
KANANGA, LEYTE – It was not only Glenda Co, wife of killed botanist Leonard Co, who lost a husband when soldiers from the 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) allegedly fired at Co’s team on that fateful day of Nov. 15 while Co was conducting work inside the compound of the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corporation (EDC). Teresa Borromeo, 45 and Arsenia Cortez, 52 also lost the men to whom they shared their life with.
In a fact-finding mission led by Agham held last Nov. 26 to 28 in Kananga, Leyte, Bulatlat interviewed the wives of the two other victims Julio Borromeo and Sofronio Cortez. “We want justice. We cannot accept that they died just like that,” Arsenia said.

Teresa Borromeo, 45 is not only grieving for the loss of her husband; she does not know how to provide for the needs of their six children. (Photo by Anne Marxze D. Umil / bulatlat.com)

For Teresa, it was unbelievable that his husband and the rest of Co’s team were caught in a gun battle between the New People’s Army (NPA) and the 19th IB. “It is impossible. All those who work for the EDC have their IDs and some have their uniforms. How could the military mistakenly identify them as NPA?” said Teresa.

Their lives were never the same especially for Teresa. Her husband Julio is the only breadwinner of the family and they have six children, the youngest is six years old.

For now, the EDC is supporting the family. The company gave the family sacks of rice, said Estelita Bayo, their godmother in their wedding. They live in barangay Tongonan, Ormoc, Leyte.

Sofronio, on the other hand, was a just bit well off. He was a regular employee of EDC for 26 years and worked as a forest guard. He has three children, two of whom already finished college and the youngest, 16, is already in fourth year high school. The family lives in Baybay, Ormoc City..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2010/12/04/widows-in-kananga-murders-call-for-justice/