Kabungsuan Yadao Makilala...fallen but not forgotten
Posted on Sunday, 5 February 2017
KABUNGSUAN YADAO MAKILALA
…fallen but not forgotten
By Apolinario Villalobos
After leaving Tacurong without even
attending our college graduation due to the urgent call of a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity from Philippine Airlines, I also left behind my friends and family
without entertaining the idea of when I would be with them again.
Many years later, every time I went home, I
developed the habit of just staying for several hours in our town crammed with
unannounced quick visits to relatives and friends. In the list, Bong and his
elder sister, Talama (Kingan) who was my classmate and barkada were always
included. I was happy to learn about his settling down and small business. And,
I thought, that was it….that he would just be some sort of a businessman, but I
was wrong.
We met again after more than ten years, but
that time, it was at Ayala Avenue during a rush hour as it was a little past
five in the afternoon. He excitedly told me about our friends and his
forthcoming job. Much as I would like us to have a better place for our
conversation, he insisted that we visit Ephraim Collado, his barkada, who was
temporarily staying at a nearby place in Makati. After that visit, we exchanged
contact numbers. And, when I called him up months later, I found the number to
be that of DILG’s but surprised when told that he was in Bilibid. I got panicky
because I thought he was detained, until the lady who answered the phone told
me that he was “on duty”. The next time I called, I finally talked to him but
he was in a hurry so he gave me his address in Muntinlupa. Our quickie phone
conversation made me realize that he was with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)
of the DILG. I failed to visit him due to my hectic schedule.
It was Talama who told me more about his
job as a warden at Bilibid when I visited her at her office in the Land
Transportation Office (LTO) in Tacurong. The next time I learned about the job
of Bong was when I read about the news on his exposition of a certain scandal
in Bilibid. It was a one-of-a-kind revelation because Bilibid was never thought
to be immersed in any scandal as it is a correctional institution, hence,
“clean” and free from corruption.
I had an opportunity to talk to him through
his cellphone while he was already staying in undisclosed places for security
reason. What I could not forget was when he told me, “sayang, Pol (the
Makilalas call me Pol)….damo pa tani ako sang isiling pero tagilid na ako….bahala
na sila sa statements ko…” (…I am disappointed, Pol…I could have revealed
more…but I am now in an awkward position….it is up to them on what to do with
my statements…) I advised him to pack his things and leave his thankless job,
and help his wife back home to develop their business. I also told him to call
me anytime, as I was just around and ready to help, but he did not. I contented
myself in monitoring the progress of the investigation until the heat of
excitement cooled off.
One day I got a surprise call from him
during which he told me that he was under a protective custody and was about to
change his number, so I told him to call me soonest as he got a new one. I told
him not to text me as I wanted to hear his voice, to be sure that he was still
be alive…I was serious when I told him that. Several years later, I was told
that he was back to our place, but I failed to check if he had with him any
security escort.
When I visited again our hometown, I
dropped by his home in New Isabela and glad that I did because I found out that
their bedridden mother with whom I was close, was under his care. He had no
“security”, so I asked what happened to the “protective custody”, to which he
just gave me assurance that he was safe. We had a lengthy talk in their small
gazebo over cups of coffee and before I left he showed me his collection of decorative
and medicinal plants, so I kidded him to go into herbal medicine business
instead of going back to BuCor. He and his wife urged me to always drop by
every time I was in town, and they gave me as a foremost reason, their mother
who was with them. That was several years ago before Duterte was elected as
president.
Late afternoon of February 4 2017, Bogz
Jamorabon texted me about Bong’s assassination as he got wind of it from a TV
news broadcast. I was shocked…first, because I did not expect him to go back to
BuCor, and second, because even if he did, I assumed he was safe, with
president Duterte as the new president. That evening, I realized that those who
wanted to finish him off must have known that he still got plenty of anomalous
information about the Bilibid that could eventually pin down de Lima who was
then, the Secretary of Justice. I could not sleep that evening as our last
phone conversation before he went into protective custody kept creeping into my
mind.
With the passing of Bong, I am resolved not
to be overcome with hate, but rather, pity to those who want to silence him
forever. I pity them because for a pittance, they allowed themselves to be used
in hindering what could have been the flow of good intention from a guy who just
wanted to help his fellowmen.
But, for Bong…he may have fallen, but his
ideals will never be forgotten. I am proud of him and so are his friends and
family, our school, Notre Dame, for having been part of his growing up with
great values oozing out of his person. Unfortunately, his unwavering trust in
the new administration pushed him off the cliff…
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