Burial in middle of storm in Mindoro

Colleagues and relatives of Zenaida Luz join the funeral procession for the anticrime crusader in the town of Gloria, Oriental Mindoro. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

GLORIA, Oriental Mindoro—Amid so many questions asked aloud as anticrime crusader Zenaida Luz was buried here, one question rang out loudest—Why?

Luz was shot dead by two police officers last week and her family’s biggest concern now is justice for her.

“I want to ask why they did it,” said Perlita, sister of Luz.

Luz was regional head of Citizens’ Crime Watch (CCW). The suspects tagged in her killing had been identified as Senior Insp. Magdaleno Pimentel Jr. and Insp. Markson Almenarez.

The two officers had been wounded in a clash with policemen who were chasing them following Luz’s killing. Pimentel and Almenarez are now suspended.

Jerry Gasco, legal researcher of CCW, said Luz was a hero in the eyes of her fellow anticrime volunteers.

Luz’s burial pushed through despite bad weather brought by Typhoon “Karen.” At least five vehicles loaded with CCW members on their way to the burial were stranded at the Batangas City port.

One of the mourners, a former teacher, said she knew Luz to be a hardworking person.
No drug past
She has never been involved in drugs, said the former teacher, who asked that she not be identified.

Owen de Luna, National Police Commission regional officer, visited the police station here and assured Luz’s family “the law would be applied.”

De Luna commended the town police team, who chased the policemen involved in Luz’s killing, for their speedy reaction.

Recording made by closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the area where Luz was killed would be secured to help identify the companions of the two policemen involved in Luz’s killing.

Witnesses had been secured, said De Luna.

Senior Insp. Ruel Lito Fronda, police chief of this town, said aside from providing security to the police team that apprehended the two policemen in Luz’s killing, members of the Luz family would also be given stress debriefing sessions.

De Luna said the killing of Luz by policemen should not lead to the condemnation of the entire police force.

The public, he said, should look at the “bigger picture” where many other policemen are faithfully doing their job, even risking their own lives.