In tribute, prelate says slain brother ‘rare breed’

ROMEO CAPALLA. Contributed Photo

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Davao Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla paid tribute to his slain younger brother Romeo Capalla, describing him as a “remarkably principled man” and a “rare breed.”

“He loved the poor and the needy especially those who are oppressed. He often told me he knew that the socioeconomic-politico-cultural injustice was the cause of oppression and poverty in this country,” said the archbishop in an opinion article set to be published by the diocesan newspaper Davao Catholic Herald on Sunday.

The elder Capalla, former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said that despite perceived threats against his life, his brother never had a security guard.

Unidentified men gunned down the younger Capalla on Saturday, in front of the public market of Oton town, Iloilo province, about 7 kilometers south of here.

Romeo, 65, died of gunshot wounds in the head.

He was a former political detainee and chair of the board of Panay Fair Trade Center (PFTC). He also served as the center’s manager for 12 years.

The center helps produce and sell natural and organic products for local and international markets. It buys organic muscovado sugar and bananas from farmers at prices higher than the mainstream market’s and exports these to fair trade organizations in Europe.

Policemen and soldiers arrested him in 2005 for his alleged involvement in the burning of construction equipment in Guimbal town, Iloilo, by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels. But the Guimbal Regional Trial Court dismissed the case against him for lack of evidence.

While he was part of the underground movement in the 1970s, his friends and colleagues have denied that he was a top NPA leader in Panay, as alleged in cases filed against suspected rebel leaders.

Police are still gathering evidence and examining the bullets from a .45 cal. pistol, which were recovered from the crime scene, according to Chief Insp. Joseph Almaquer, public information officer of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office.

He said police would also prepare a sketch of the gunmen based on testimonies of witnesses.

In his article, Archbishop Capalla likened his slain brother to their late grandfather Jose Capalla.

Jose, then mayor of Leon town, was murdered in 1942 by his political rivals, according to the archbishop.

The archbishop said Romeo, like their grandfather, stood firm on his principles.

The archbishop also lauded his brother for successfully managing the PFTC.

“He never studied economics but succeeded with vigor in putting up a good business corporation that exports banana chips to Germany and (muscovado) sugar to Italy. He put up sugar mills in Iloilo and Antique provinces and introduced a new way of growing sugarcane. In the process, he was able to provide jobs for people in the countryside,” the archbishop said.

He remembers his brother as a “soft-spoken, unassuming, self-assured, confident, compassionate and courageous person,” traits which endeared him to many especially his siblings and family.

“We will miss him,” the archbishop said.