TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – An emotional post by Gemma Lubigan, widow of slain Trece Martires City vice mayor Alexander C. Lubigan, broke her silence as she shared through social media on Thursday her sentiments and outburst over what she described as a brutal death that only a devil can perpetrate.
“Bakit ganun? Kinuha nila ang buhay mo sa ganyang paraan? NAPAKABRUTAL!!!! Gawain lang ito ng mga DEMONYO!!! (Why did they take your life in that very brutal way!!! Only the devil can do this!)
Gemma initially turned down interviews and had her sister-in-law, Kristine Lubigan Lucero, act as the family spokesperson. She went public with her emotional post for the first time through her Facebook account, “Gem Lubigan”.
Her husband was killed in an ambush by still unidentified suspects in front of the Korean-Philippines Friendship Hospital along Trece-Indang Road of Barangay Luciano here, shortly before 3:00 p.m. on July 7, 2018. The regional and provincial police, in previous statements, have both declared “politics” as one of the possible motives after initial investigation revealed the slain vice-mayor’s intent to run for a mayoralty post when his third and last term as city vice mayor ends in 2019.
Gem, addresses the post to “Daddy Bulek” her term of endearment to the slain vice mayor, as she admits being at a loss on what happened.
She shared her husband’s political sacrifices since 2016, the hardships he endured and how her husband was ganged up while serving his term as vice-mayor without mentioning names.
She said her husband told her then to let everything pass, believing that in the end they’ll see some gains and even quoted him as saying “hayaan na natin mommy, patawarin n(a) lang natin sila, basta tayo may peace of mind at masaya, kakayanin ko ang lahat (let it be, mommy, let’s forgive them, as long as we have peace of mind and we’re happy, I can handle everything).”
The wife and the couple’s eldest daughter were on board another vehicle trailing the vice-mayor’s black Hilux pick-up truck after spending fitness exercises during the ambush.
Gemma and her daughter personally witnessed how the suspects, who were on board a similar vehicle model but without license plates and conduction sticker, killed her husband.
A physical match of the suspects’ vehicle was found abandoned along the Mabacao-Pantihan Bridge, Barangay Tulay B in Maragondon, Cavite at 6:55a.m. on Wednesday.
Gemma hopes her husband’s death will serve its purpose, that justice will be served and that “their corruption practices will end.”
She adds that her husband’s simple wish was to serve, as he had chosen the country over his family.
She even shared that during his last day, the vice mayor even told her that since he is fighting for a cause, God will guide and protect him.
“Akala mo bullet proof ka na sa sobrang faith mo kay LORD. Kawawa na ang TRECE, nakakatakot na sa Trece. Sana di na masundan ang ganitong trahedya. Sana hipuin ni LORD ang puso nila kung meron man sila nito para maging mabuti n silang tao,” (you thought you’re bullet proof due to your faith to the Lord. I pity Trece, it has become a scary place, hopefully, this tragedy will end. May the Lord touch their hearts, if they have one, for them to become better persons).
Gemma is now also seeking the Lord’s guidance to help the family get through the tragedy, to move forward without the head of the family, and to guide all agencies working together to immediately resolve the case.
As ot this writing, the post has already generated more than 3,000 reactions and 900 shares. (Gladys Pino/PNA)
