Kin, VACC remember slain cop as dedicated, hardworking man

MANILA, Philippines—Relatives of slain Chief Insp. Elmer Santiago remembered a hardworking man who soldiered on despite the hazards he faced as they buried him in Pasig City on Sunday afternoon.

The clear blue skies and sunny weather contrasted with the wailing and weeping of Santiago’s wife, Agnes, as a funeral Mass was held in the packed Sumilang Chapel just a few blocks away from their house in Pasig City.

Wearing black shirts bearing the message “Justice for Emong Santiago,” the policeman’s relatives and supporters from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) then marched to the Evergreen Crematorium where his remains were cremated in a private ceremony.

The 42-year-old Santiago who was last assigned to the intelligence unit of the Bataan Provincial Police Office was shot dead on Holy Wednesday, April 16, in Mandaluyong City.

He left behind a “link diagram” of policemen allegedly running an illegal drug peddling cell in Manila and Central Luzon which his family and supporters believe was the reason he was gunned down.

Just last week, Agnes recalled how her husband was always aware of the dangers posed by his job as an intelligence officer for the Bataan police.

“He would always tell our son Miguel, ‘Do not be naughty. Be good. Everything I’ve earned, I’ve spent on you and your mom. But I can’t give you everything you want. Just take care of what you have because you never know, I may be killed by a syndicate one day,’” she said.

“He was very protective of us to the point that he wouldn’t let a fly land on us. I love my husband so much. I can’t take it that he left us. We were inseparable for 22 years. Now we are afraid because we no longer have a protector,” Agnes told the Inquirer.

“Whoever did this, I just wish that they would stop. And I want justice. God will take care of those behind this but I want justice for my husband,” she added.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Morales, a former agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, said that Santiago, whom he knew from childhood, was dedicated to his job.

“As an agent of law enforcement, he was a passionate policeman who envisioned a drug-free Philippines. He always helped other law enforcement agencies by providing information specifically on the illegal drug trade in his area of jurisdiction,” Morales said.

Senior Supt. Wilson Caubat, the head of the task force created to look into Santiago’s death, said that they were still waiting for witnesses to help them identify his killers. A P50,000 reward was offered last week for any information about the gunmen.—With a report from Kristine Felisse Mangunay