One of three drug suspects killed by police during an alleged buy-bust operation last Monday night was a scholar of a non-government organization (NGO) and dreamed of becoming a policeman.
“Pangarap niyang maging pulis, pero pulis din pala ang papatay sa kanya,” said Gian, the best friend of Jefferson Bunuan, one of the slain suspects.
Gian, 19, was at Bunuan’s wake Wednesday afternoon.
Gian, a marine student, said they have promised each other to reach their dreams and have a good life. “Mahihirapan akong mag-adjust, lalo na lagi kaming magkasama, nangarap kami pareho e,” Gian said.
Contrary to police reports, Bunuan, his cousin Mark Anthony Bunuan and a friend Jomar Manaois were killed while sleeping, their families claimed.
On the night of their death, Bunuan opted to sleep at Manaois’ house because there was no space in their house, according to Lovely, his sister.
“Noong pumutok sa amin ’yung balita na may gulo, kinutuban ako na baka kina Jomar ’yun kaya pinuntahan ko. Noong una ayaw pa ipakita ’yung bangkay,” Lovely said.
She said with the death of their father, Jefferson was like their parent, not failing to remind them to act properly and live righteously.
The Kaibigan Foundation, the NGO which granted Jefferson scholarship, said the slain student was very shy but participated actively in different activities of the foundation.
Despite financial difficulties, Jefferson managed to graduate in elementary and high school. He also took up skills training course Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW).
Before his death, he was a first year college student taking up BS Criminology in Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST). Jefferson was also a volunteer of Lambat Sibat, a PNP program which aims to prevent crimes in the country.
Already teary-eyed, Gian narrated his last basketball game with Jefferson during the weekend.
“Hindi ko akalain na mangyayari ‘to sa kanya, napakabuti niyang tao, naglalaro lang kami nung Sabado, masaya pa nga kami,” Gian shared.
Gian said Jefferson is always their captain in their games, since grade school up until that game on Saturday, Gian added “siya ang captain.”