Justice eludes slain drug suspects

A friend prays for Erick Sison (top), a pedicab driver killed while surrendering to Pasay policemen, while a woman (left) lights candles at the tomb of Salvador Cuatro III, a drug user mistaken for his older brother. —PHOTOS BY ERIKA SAULER AND DEXTER CABALZA

This All Saints’ Day, Rachelle Bermoy chose to stay home and just light candles for her slain partner, 21-year-old pedicab driver Erick Sison, who was shot at least 14 times by Pasay policemen in August.

Citing the huge crowd and bad weather, the 18-year-old Bermoy decided not to go to the Pasay public cemetery where Sison was laid to rest beside a friend’s father since they could not pay for a niche of his own.

More than two months after his death, Bermoy is still overcome by sorrow at times, leaving her staring blankly into space. Whenever this happens, her father or siblings take turns looking after her 1-year-old son with Sison.

Bermoy told the Inquirer on Tuesday that she was resigned to the possibility that justice would not be served in her partner’s case and no charges would be brought against the policemen involved in the shooting.

Sison and a companion were accosted by members of the Buendia police community precinct who were conducting foot patrol near Tripa de Galina Creek in Barangay 43, Pasay City, around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 23.

Shot while surrendering

The police said Sison fired at them before he fled toward the narrow alley on F. Muñoz Street where he lived. The policemen chased the pedicab driver whom they considered a drug suspect. Based on a video taken by a neighbor, Sison could be heard surrendering but he was still shot repeatedly.

Harley Sison said his elder brother might have been mistaken for another suspect. He said Sison didn’t own a gun, disputing the policemen’s version of events. The policemen frisked Sison and his male companion, then took their money before telling them to run, Harley told the Inquirer, recalling what Sison’s companion told them.

Police Officers 1 Melford Olorosisimo, Jan Erwin Isaac and Benigno Baladjay were relieved, together with their precinct commander, Senior Insp. Oscar Pagulayan, as an investigation began on whether there was abuse on their part.

“I fear for our lives,” Bermoy said, wary of policemen who come asking questions, some claiming to be from Davao.

According to her, she just wanted to make life better for her son—her “source of joy” amid the despair—who was cheerfully gurgling and prancing around the cramped shanty.

Her sadness was also somehow alleviated when Sison recently appeared to her in a dream. “He told me he was happy up there. He told me to never forget him and to take good care of our son,” Bermoy said.

For the mother of one of the victims of drug-related killings in Pateros, justice for her son was up to God and the saints.

On All Saints’ Day, 68-year-old Margaret Cuatro, whose son Salvador III was gunned down at 3:40 a.m. on Oct. 3, went to San Roque Cemetery.

Salvador, a 34-year-old garbage collector, was shot four times in the head outside his house in Barangay Sta. Ana. Margaret admitted that he was a drug user although he never harmed anyone. It was his older brother who was “more involved in drugs,” she said without elaborating.

In her frequent visits to his grave, Margaret would often be alone. That morning, however, there were other people visiting the tombs beside her son’s.

“It turns out they were the families of two people also slain by motorcycle-riding gunmen,” Margaret said, describing how they were killed: One was shot in the mouth while the other was gunned down the day before he was to leave for the province.

Names on drug watchlist

Salvador’s tomb is atop that of Daniel Yusay who died on Sept. 27. To Yusay’s left is Rollie Bautista, killed on Sept. 29. All three men were on the barangay drug watch list and gunned down by still unidentified men on motorcycles.

Nov. 13 would mark the 40th day since Salvador was killed. According to Filipino tradition, prayers and food should be offered for his soul but Margaret said this was not likely since they had no money.

“I also do not see a reason to do it since there are no updates on my son’s case,” she told the Inquirer, adding that up to now, they have yet to hear from the police.

“It’s hard for us but we also need to look after ourselves and focus on other things. I will just let God and his saints serve justice to my dead son,” she added.

Even before Salvador was buried, Margaret sent his older brother away to “a faraway province,” telling him not to return. In a previous interview, she told the Inquirer that Salvador’s killers might have mistaken him for his older brother.

“Whenever I visit my son’s grave, I always tell him to keep his older brother safe and to support his family from wherever he is. I know he is in good hands,” she said.