This is the what was left of the house where Dean Torrefranca, a former US Marine, made his stand against police officers in Barangay Lawaan III, Talisay City. He was killed in a shootout with police officers. | Delta Dyrecka Letigio
TALISAY CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas encouraged the public to never resort to arms in settling disputes.
This he said in a statement following the death of Lawaan III Barangay Captain Jimmy Bartilic, who died trying to settle a dispute in the family of former village chief, Delia Ybañez-Torrefranca, on the morning of Thursday, May 16.
Jed Ybañez, the son of Delia, also died in the shooting incident in Lawaan III after Dean Torrefranca, a US Marine, shot him and the barangay captain when they tried to settle a property dispute.
Read more: Talisay tragedy: Three deaths, a burning house, an hour-long shootout
Gullas said in a statement released at 4 p.m. on the Facebook page of the Talisay City Mayor, that the city condemned the tragic incident in Lawaan III since it took the lives of two public servants.
Jed Ibañez also worked in the Talisay City Hall as a city health officer.
“Kap Jimmy Bartilic’s feat in public service (where he) has rendered a remarkable deed for his constituents. Because of his passion to serve, he was greatly loved not only by the people of Lawaan III but also those people who knows his trademark of public service,” said Gullas.
The mayor said that the city regretted that Bartilic was taken away in an instant and in the “most tragic way.”
Gullas also said in the statement that Jade Ybañez and Bartilic were on equal footing because Ybañez worked as a regular employee in City Hall.
He said that Ybanez was assigned at City Health and had diligently performed his duties and responsibilities well.
The mayor reminded the public to settle disputes through a diplomatic way and never resort to violence.
Marietta Bucao, Assocation of Barangay Councils (ABC) Talisay City president, told CDN Digital that she would be proposing to the City Council to help the families of Bartilic and Ybañez following their deaths.
Bucao, who is also San Isidro barangay captain, also encouraged the barangay chiefs in Talisay to avoid settling disputes outside the barangay hall.
“Kung magsettle ta adto lang tas barangay hall kung mahimo. Dili nalang ta moadto sa tagbalay kay risgo kaayo. (If we preside over settlements, let us do this inside the barangay hall. Let us not go to the houses because it poses a greater risk),” said Bucao.
Bucao said she was saddened over the death of fellow chief Bartilic because he was well loved in his barangay.
“He was honest and lovable. Makaguol gyod iyang pagkawala. (His death is so saddening),” said Bucao./dbs