LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – The son of slain Los Baños Mayor Caesar Perez has called on President Duterte to help his family and town residents attain justice for his father’s brutal slay.
“Kami po ay nananawagan kay Presidente Duterte kasama ang aking pamilya at ang mamamayan ng Los Baños na umiiyak na humihingi kami ng hustisya sa pagkamatay ng aking ama,” said Aldous Perez, youngest son of the slain mayor, during the latter’s wake at their residence here.
Aldous arrived from the United States following his father’s death.
The mayor was gunned down by still unidentified suspects within the municipal hall compound on Thursday night.
Aldous said he believed that his father’s slay was related to his being included in Duterte’s narco-list.
“Marahil dahil inilabas nila sa listahan. Tatanungin ko sana sila, ‘Ano ba’ng pruweba?’ dahil wala kaming tinatago,” Aldous said.
He said his father had been proving his innocence on the accusations prior to his death.
“This year, I think kung di ako nagkakamali, either October or November, nagpunta siya sa PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) para i-clear ‘yung name niya, at hiningian siya ng drug test, which is negative naman,” he recalled.
Aldous said his family was coordinating with the police with regard to the investigation on the killing, adding that he would wait for some results before giving further statements.
“Nirerespeto ko sila at naniniwala ako, kaya nananawagan ako sa Presidente dahil malaki ang maitutulong niya dito,” he continued.
The elder Perez served as mayor of this town from 2001 to 2010, and from 2013 until he was killed. He also served as Laguna’s vice governor in 2010 to 2013.
While being a father to his children, he was also a figurative father to his fellow “eLBiZens” prior to his untimely death.
Aldous recalled how his father was as a longtime public servant.
“Ang nami-miss ko dyan, laging nandyan hindi lang para sa pamilya kundi para sa taumbayan. Kahit sinong lumapit, may appointment o walang appointment, kukunin ka,” he said.
Even if he had been a top official here and even in the rest of Laguna as a one-time vice governor for the past 19 years, Mayor Perez, according to his son, remained down to earth.
“Napakasimpleng tao. Walang bodyguard. Walang arte. Kahit sino, kinakausap. Kilala ng mamamayan ng Los Baños ang ating punong bayan,” Aldous said, pointing out that his father continued to enjoy the trust of his constituents despite all the issues thrown against him.
He also recalled the times when his father himself responded to certain disasters.
“Pag may sunog, siya mismo ang nang-aagaw ng hose. Pag may bagyo, siya ang nagpuputol ng punong natumba” Aldous continued. “May camera o wala, nagtatrabaho siya.”
He said his father was not the type of public official who craved for publicity.
“Hindi siya sanay na may camera para may pa-photo op,” Aldous said.
He even recalled the times that his dad himself did traffic enforcement at the Los Baños junction, which is the intersection of the Manila South Road and Lopez Avenue, the main road toward the University of the Philippines (UP) campus here.
Mayor Perez’s residence is located along Lopez Avenue, formerly known as Grove Road, just before the UP-Los Baños main gate.
Mayor Perez, according to his son, will be dearly missed.
“Hindi lang kami ang makaka-miss kundi ang taumbayan, kaya ang taumbayan ng Los Baños ay umiiyak at humihiling ng hustisya,” Aldous said.
