About 150 Pablo victims under Barug Katawhan from Compostela Valley were blocked by the police while passing through the towns of Mati, Lupon and Banaybanay on Wednesday, according to Hanimay Suazo of rights group Karapatan. They were supposed to attend the tribute for Cristina Jose last night.
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
BAGANGA, Davao Oriental, Philippines –- Almost 300 individuals from Davao City, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental provinces have arrived since Wednesday to attend the burial of slain Barug Katawhan leader Christina Jose Thursday in Binondo Village, this town.
About 150 Pablo victims under Barug Katawhan from Compostela Valley were blocked by the police while passing through the towns of Mati, Lupon and Banaybanay on Wednesday, according to Hanimay Suazo of rights group Karapatan. They were supposed to attend the tribute for Cristina Jose last night.
“The group was also blocked in Tarragona town. At 9PM Wednesday, the wheels of the buses and trucks that transported the Pablo victims burst because of spikes spread along the roads,” said Suazo.
At 11 PM Wednesday, the group was again blocked in Manay town, this time, with a truck that allegedly malfunctioned.
It was only late Thursday morning that the contingent from Compostela Valley finally reached the town of Baganga, just a few hours before Jose was finally laid to rest.
“The Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Mortela is behind all these harassment,” Suazo said, adding that they are also asking Governor Corazon Malanyaon regarding the blockade.
A mass was offered for Jose at the Immaculate Concepcion Parish, Poblacion village.
During the funeral march from their home to the parish where almost a thousand participated including Jose’s friends, family and relatives, Pablo victims and support groups led in chanting “Hustisya alang kay Christina Jose.”
Lawyer and Bayan Muna Partylist second nominee Carlos Zarate, Datu Monico Cayug of Mindanao indigenous people’s group Kalumaran and Sheena Duazo of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Mindanao, grieved with the family and attended the funeral.
Wearing a white shirt with print “I love you ma,” Jose’s husband Danilo thanked the mourners as he recalled his fondest memories with his wife.
Family, relatives and support groups proceeded to Lucod Cemetery in the Poblacion of Baganga to lay Jose to her final rest. (Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan/davaotoday.com)
