By Ralph John Mijares and Edalyn Acta
ROXAS CITY — Slain Barangay Roosevelt, Tapaz chief Julie Catamin will be laid to rest on March 18 at the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Poblacion, Tapaz.
Catamin’s remains lie in state at the Roosevelt Civic Center.
Catamin was gunned down in Calinog, Iloilo on February 28.
Lt. George Lenantud, deputy chief and public information officer of the Calinog police, said that Catamin was visiting relatives of a deceased family member.
Police have yet to establish the motive for the killing.
The 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army claimed that the victim was targetted by the communist rebels.
“His death is strong evidence of the CPP-NPA’s blatant violation of human rights. Mercilessly killing an unarmed public servant is one of their violent ways. A desperate move that only the cold-blooded communist-terrorist groups can execute especially when they are losing the people’s trust and confidence,” Major Gen. Eric Vinoya, commander of 3rd ID, said.
“Under the leadership of Catamin, the residents of Barangay Roosevelt took a bold step against the CPP-NPA terrorists by declaring them as persona non-grata last September 15, 2020. He has supported the Community Support Program of the Army in Panay and has been instrumental in the success of the said program in his barangay,” he added.
Mayor Roberto Palomar has offered a P500,000 cash reward to those who could provide information about the perpetrators.*
