Banacon mourns ‘drug lord,’ tempers fiesta celebration

Residents of Banacon hear Mass at the Sta. Cruz chapel. All other activities were canceled following the death of suspected drug lord Rowen Secrataria and two others. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

Banacon Island – Colorful flaglets greet commuters and travelers as soon as they set foot on this island off Getafe town in Bohol while slaughtered hogs await roasting outside some houses as part of preparations for the annual fiesta celebration.

This year’s celebration, however, has been tempered by the death of alleged drug lord Rowen Secretaria, who was killed along with two alleged cohorts in a police operation at the Banacon port Saturday dawn.

“Bootan man gud kaayo na siya kay manghatag jud na sa mga tawo diri, labi na bugas kay puro biya mananagat ang mga tawo diri (He was a good man. He used to distribute rice to the people here),” said Rodrigo Ismael, Banacon barangay captain.

Ismael said the entire community was in mourning, and officers of the chapel association have decided to cancel some of the activities in deference to the Secretaria family.

“Amo-a lang na gi-cancel ang live band tonight (Monday) and also the supposed pageant on the night sa kasaulogan kay para pod musimpatya sa pamilya (We canceled the live band and the pageant to show our sympathy with the family,” Ismael told Cebu Daily News.

The barangay has been holding various activities since May 22 in preparation for the fiesta in honor of their patron saint Santa Cruz today.

After the police raid last Saturday, however, Ismael said the remaining activities that they had lined up were canceled. “Amo lang mapadayon kay ang misa ug ang hikay ginagmay kay di man malikayan nga naa pod mubisita gikan sa laing isla aron mukaon. Maayo nalang naa miy ikadalit (The Mass will continue and the residents will still prepare a banquet to welcome visitors who might arrive from other islands),” he said.

Only a few arrived for the fiesta celebration yesterday. Ismael said they expected a thinner crowd today. Police swooped down on the island-barangay last Saturday and killed Secretaria along with two alleged cohorts John Jason Montes and Dario Torremocia. A fourth suspect, Ricardo Ostolano, was wounded.

Christine Otarra, 41, was disappointed. She said she endured a boat ride from Cebu City for almost three hours only to find out that most of the fiesta events have been canceled. She and her companion started their drinking binge at 10 a.m. yesterday.

“Mao biya na among gi-uli diri kay kausa ra gud na sa usa ka tuig. Pero wala na pod miy mabuhat. Lingaw-lingaw lang mi’g amo gud, inom unya hikay gamay (We went home for the festivities which happen only once a year. But we can’t do anything. We’re just enjoying our drinks and some food),” Otarra told CDN. After the death of Secretaria and two others, Otarra said the residents and especially the children have been turning in as early as 7 p.m.

“Hadlok man ang mga tawo diri uy. Murag naay trauma ba kay kanang feeling nga basin naa na pod lain pinusilay ba mao nga hiposon jud namo ang mga bata (The people have been traumatized. They are afraid of another shooting incident that’s why we really make sure the children are home early),” she said.

Relatives have requested for police security as they held Secretaria’s wake at his two-story colonial-type house on the island. Five to 10 officers from the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) have been deployed in the area.

“Mahadlok naman gud mi nga mamalik sila unya mamusil na pod,” said a relative who refused to be named.

About 12 hours after the police raid that led to Secretaria’s death, the bodies of a couple with multiple gunshot wounds were found in an isolated area near the Banacon cemetery. The victims, identified as Christopher Dejacto,39 and wife Ma. Theresa Dejacto, were residents of Barangay Ermita in Cebu City, where Secretaria also resided. CJ

Christopher Dejacto, eldest son of the victims, said his father worked as a carpenter for Secretaria’s family. His parents went to Banacon to attend the fiesta celebration.

As of yesterday, police have neither established the motive for the killing nor identified possible suspects. Otarra said she thought she heard fireworks at around 10 a.m. on Sunday. The bodies were discovered at past 4 p.m. on the same day.

“Sunod-sunod man gud ang buto, abi namo nga fireworks ra to ba. Testing to sa fireworks diri para fiesta, wala mi nag-expect nga ingon ato diay (We thought there were fireworks in preparation for the fiesta),” she said. Otarra said the couple looked like parts of them were eaten by dogs.