Slain Los Baños mayor’s family seeks Duterte’s help in search for justice

The bereaved family of Los Baños Mayor Caesar Perez on Sunday appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to help them in their quest for justice.

Perez was shot dead by still-unidentified gunmen inside the municipal hall on Thursday. 

“Presidente Duterte, kasama ang aking pamilya at ang mamamayan ng Los Baños na umiiyak, humihiling po kami ngayon ng hustisya sa pagkamatay ng aking ama,” his son Aldous said in a “24 Oras Weekend” report by Bernadette Reyes.

Aldous said their family was still haunted by the late mayor’s inclusion in the president’s list of “narco politicians.” 

Perez was among the local chief executives who faced charges filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. 

Aldous said his father repeatedly tried to clear his name.

“Maraming beses siyang sumagot, nagpadala ng sagot sa iba’t ibang departamento ng gobyerno at this year lang… nagpunta siya sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency para i-clear ‘yung name niya at hiningan siya ng drug test, which is negative naman,” he said.

Meanwhile, Perez’s friends honored his legacy during his wake.

“Si mayor po ang unang LGU na nagpasa ng ordinance na bawal ang plastik, paggamit  ng plastik,” lawyer Roberto Oliva said.

Councilor Janos Lapiz said Perez was watching over his pet fish shortly before he was killed.

“Pumunta siya doon sa mga alaga niyang isda, tiningnan kung nakakain na. Then no’ng babalik na sana siya sa room niya, do’n nangyari ‘yung shooting,” he said.

The National Bureau of Investigation Laguna has started probing the shooting.

Vice President Leni Robredo earlier decried impunity in the country following Perez’s murder. — BM, GMA News