The family of slain pedicab driver Eric Sison has denied police claim that he was a drug pusher.
“Nagpepedal lang po si Eric para matustusan ‘yong panga-ngailangan ng pamilya niya. Hindi po nagtutulak ng droga ‘yon. Imposible po ‘yong mga sinabi nila,” said Bernard Bermoy, the 43-year old father of Sison’s live-in partner Rachel.
Bermoy was interviewed Tuesday night at their shanty house in F. Munoz Street in Tramo, Pasay City.
Rachel, 19, was asleep after bringing Sison’s body to the morgue. On a separate room was their one-year-old baby Emuel.
Bermoy, also a pedicab driver, said her daughter Rachel has been living in with Sison for two years now.
“Ganito lang ang buhay namin, payak. Mahirap lang po kami pero hindi po kami sangkot sa droga,” he said.
Bermoy said that Eric was earning barely P4,000 a month or P133 a day as a pedicab driver, just enough for their daily meals.
“Ultimo isusubo niyang kanin, ibibigay na lang niya sa pamilya niya. Ganyan niya kamahal ang mag-ina niya, talagang mabuting ama,” Bermoy said as he denied that Sison owned a gun.
Bermoy said that he was one street away from their house when he heard the gunshots.
“Nagulat ako dahil nakatambay ako dyan sa may kanto nang biglang may putok ng baril akong narinig. Tumakbo ako pero nakita ko siya (Sison) na natumba sa tapat ng bahay namin kaso tumayo agad tapos sabay akyat. Napaatras ako dahil may tatlong pulis na humahabol sa kanya,” he narrated.
Bermoy said they are appealing for justice.
“Pangulong Duterte, sana naman ho mabigyan ng hustisya ‘yong pagkamatay ni Eric. Hindi ho siya masamang tao. Tulungan niyo po kami lalo na ‘yong mag-ina niya,” he said.
Bermoy added that Rachel is eager to file a case against the Pasay policemen.
“Magsasampa daw po siya ng kaso. Talagang desidido siya dahil hindi makatao ‘yong ginawa nila, talagang pagmamalabis ‘yon eh,” he said. (Martin Sadongdong)
