Supporters of slain councilor Nonoy Reluya leave the San Isidro Labrador Parish in South Poblacion, San Fernando after a mass that marked the ninth day of novena for his death. CDN Digital | Tonee Despojo
SAN FERNANDO, Cebu —The supporters of Panadtaran Barangay Captain and Association of Barangay Councils President Ricardo “Nonoy” Reluya continue their call for justice, 15 days after he was shot dead in an ambush in Talisay City, Cebu.
Mostly clad in black statement shirts calling for justice for Councilor Reluya’s death, the supporters of the slain official marked the ninth day of the novena for the death of the village chief on Wednesday morning, February 6, with a Mass at the San Isidro Labrador Parish in South Poblacion, here.
Read: Reluya ambush ‘partially solved’ as deadline expires
Felomino Leyson, president of the Purok Leaders Federation of the town, said the group wants the help of President Duterte in solving the case. He said they will come up with a letter to the president, asking him to intervene so the case will be resolved.
“Magsaba-saba gyod mi kay aron mahunong na gyod ni ang pagpatay diri sa San Fernando. Dunay mga pagpatay sa kaulohan, masulbad man so walay rason nga dili masulbad ning krimen diri sa atoa,” Leyson told CDN Digital in an interview after the Mass.
Read: Bloody night in Talisay City claims 4 lives, including town mayor’s husband
Councilor Reluya, his wife, San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya, and four others were on board a van en route to Cebu City when armed men ambushed their group while traversing the national high way in Barangay Linao in Talisay City on January 22.
Councilor Reluya and two of their companions died while Mayor Reluya and two other companions survived the attack.
Read: Police have identified prime suspect in Mayor Reluya’s ambush
Prior to the ambush on the Reluyas, three other town officials of San Fernand were gunned down in separate incidents.
Meanwhile, Fr. Rienero Silgas, who celebrated the Mass for the late councilor, encouraged the supporters not to heed to violence in their hopes to find justice for Reluya and the other fatalities of the ambush.
“Pakigdait bisan pa man nga nahitabo kini. Dili nato baslan og dautan ang nagbuhat og dautan. Dili nato mapukan ang dautan pinaagi sa dautan,” Silgas said in his homily. /bjo