THE death of barangay captain Rey Oybenes, 39, left his family and residents of barangay Mabini in deep shock.
He was finishing his last term as barangay captain this year after serving 19 years, and was described as a kind, dedicated leader who was easy to approach.
Mimi Oybenes, 42, his eldest sibling said she was expecting her brother to show up for a business meeting with her in a dimsum restaurant in Banilad on Thursday afternoon when he died.
Instead she got an emergency call about the shooting that sent her rushing to sitio Tigbao in Talamban, where his truck was parked, with Rey shot dead inside.
Rey’s wife, Jecebel Oybenes, 38, also rushed there after hearing the news.
“He was a very good husband, a very good provider to me and my son,” she told Cebu Daily News in Cebuano yesterday. “He did not lack in anything.”
In tears, she spoke of how how much she loved Rey, despite all the rumors she heard about an extra-marital affair.
“Nagsakit gyud ko. Bisan unsa pa nang comments among madunggan, love gyud nako siya,” she said.
“Grabe siyag commitment and service sa katawhan,” Jecebel added.
The spouses were married for 19 years and have a 10-year-old son.
In Mabini, the barangay captain’s coffin was laid out in the sports complex which was recently renovated.
Just last month, a ribbon cutting ceremony was done, attended by Mayor Michael Rama and Oybenes.
A good friend of Rey since their elementary years, barangay Mabini councilor Leo Pepito, 41, said the death and reported suicide was hard to believe.
“Nakalitan gyud ko. Ligdung man na siya nga pagkatao. Motrabaho gyud siya isip amahan sa barangay. Hugno gyud tibuok barangay ani,” he told CDN.
However, the husband of Rey’s aunt, George Pepito, 83, said Rey had been confiding to him his problems and he was aware of the affair with another woman.
He said that last week, Rey told him about the woman’s desire to end their relationship, something George encouraged but didn’t expect would end in violence.
Barangay Mabini has seen a lot of improvement because of Rey, said his sister Mimi.
Mimi said her brother had told her to run to replace him as barangay captain while he planned to run again as councilor in October.
“Dawaton nako ang iyang gihangyo nako,” said a crying Mimi.
Mimi received a long distance call from Mayor Rama at 10:55 pm. last night. She showed CDN a text from Rama to answer his call. Oybenes is a Team Rama ally.
She said she apologized for ordering her younger brother Ramy to break the window of the city-owned Toyota Hi-lux where Rey was found bloodied. They had hoped to still save his life.
“Nangayo kog sorry ni mayor. Magpapriso ko, manubag ko kay ako man nagsugo. Sakit kaayo ang gibuhat sa mga police, nganong wala nila ablihi dayun. Basin marevive pa akong igsuon,” she said
She said the mayor said he would return to Cebu city today and visit the vigil wake.
Mimi said their family has close ties with political leaders like the Osmeñas, Del Mars, Ramas and Alvin Garcia.
The couple’s 10-year-old son, still silent and looking blank, hasn’t cried since the tragedy, a sign of deep shock.
The Oybenes family appealed to the media to preserve the good name of the barangay captain.
“Nahitabo na ang nahitabo. Namatay naman sila. Dili na lang ta magpataka pag storya,” said Mimi.
His widow asked for prayers.
Tabangi lang mi ug pray,” (Help us pray for him), Jecebel said.
The barangay captain’s funeral is set on June 10.