by Johnny Dayang
BORACAY Island-- The Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI) has condemned the killing of Boracay Ati Tribe Organization (BATO) leader Dexter Condez, 26, who was buried as a hero last Saturday.
BFI--the main body of Boracay business establishments representing the island’s resorts, hotels, restaurants, water sports stations, market stalls, banks, airlines and other enterprises and organizations--in its resolution adopted last Saturday, March 1 denounced the dastardly killing and called for the immediate resolution of the case as it negatively affects tourism and damage the image of Boracay island as the top tourist destination.
Speaking through its president, Dionisio J. Salme, the BFI said: “We join Kalibo Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc and 20 other priests of the diocese who officiated the mass for the slain Ati tribe leader.
Victoria Eliza “Viel” Aquino Dee, President Aquino’s sister and vice-president of the Asisi Foundation; Sr. Hermi Sutares, program coordinator of the Holy Rosary Parish Ati Mission; and the entire Boracay community join in denouncing the senseless killing of Dexter Condez, a visionary young man whose life has been dedicated to the upliftment of his tribe and to the promotion of justice and national unity.
Bishop Tala-oc said, the diocese will continue to support the Ati tribe.
In his humily, Bishop Tala-oc said: “We will journey with you in your struggle for land and justice for your tribe. We have a hero in Boracay.”
The bishop called on the police and local officials to insure the resolution of the case.
Ms. Aquino-Dee, who attended the mass and funeral for the Ati tribe leader, said in a speech:
“He was so young and he had a bright future. Those responsible (for Condez’s killing) should be caught and punished.”
The police, led by Senior Insp. Joeffer Cabural, chief of Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC), have tagged Daniel Celestino, a security guard of the Crown Regency Boracay Resorts chain in the killing.
Celestino and the resorts and hotel chain management denied any involvement in the murder case. Lawyers of Crown Regency Boracay Resorts said Celestino was in the hotel at the time of the killing.
Condez died after a lone gunman shot him several times while he and two other companions were on their way home from a meeting in Barangay Manoc-Manoc, Boracay island, Malay, Aklan on Feb. 22.
Salme said BFI will send copies of its resolution to President Aquino, the Philippine National Police (PNP), Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores, Congressman Teodoro Haresco, Gov. Carlito Marquez, Malay Mayor John P. Yap and other concerned officials and authorities for their appropriate action on the case.
The presence of indigenous people in Boracay is good for tourism. It helps make Boracay a mystical island which attract tourists from different parts of the world.
The language, traditional practices, the old ways of life of the Atis in Boracay island is very much a part of our multi-cultural society. /MP
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