When Llamas’ sister was interviewed on television immediately after the incident, she said that Tabaco is a peaceful place and there should be no trouble here. She expressed surprise about what happened to her brother who had already left the revolutionary movement.
Open support
Obviously, Llamas’ fault in the eyes of those responsible for his death was his open support for the Bayan Muna (People First) party-list group, tagged by the military as among the CPP’s front organizations. Data from Bayan Muna party-list showed that 116 of its members were killed from April 15, 2001 to July 31, 2006; Llamas was the 109th.
Within the first seven months of the year, Llamas was the sixth Bayan Muna member from Bicol to be killed. The others were Councilor Maximo Frivaldo, killed last January 30 in Irosin, Sorsogon; Jayson Delen, last April 27 in Barangay Gubat, Daet, Camarines Norte; Jimmy Mirafuente, also last April 27 in Daraga, Albay; Jesus Bustinera, last April 28 in Barangay Caranday, Baao, Camarines Sur; and Ronald Comerciase last April 29 in Iriga City, Albay.
At present, life is back to normal as people go about their daily grind. Residents here do not even worry about the alert levels being raised from time to time due to Mayon Volcano’s eruption, not only because they have experienced the wrath of the volcano several times in the past and survived but also because Tabaco is not covered by the danger zone.
There is, however, reason to worry about the future as the wave of political killings has already reached this once peaceful city. Unlike the threat of a volcanic eruption, there are no lines to be drawn as to where one could be safe. Llamas’ murder in broad daylight shows that those responsible intend to send a strong message that to live a “normal” life means being quiet all the time.
In Bicolano, I learned that totoo means right and wala means left. For someone like me who is used to speaking Tagalog, I have become used to the meaning of totoo as true and wala as nothing.
Apparently, those who are responsible for the political killings may find it a strange coincidence that it is exactly what they are doing to those suspected to be left-leaning in Bicol and beyond – literally reduce them to nothing.
Indeed, an eruption of a different kind is expected to happen in Tabaco City, as the peace is disturbed and its tranquility is destroyed by those who only have murder and mayhem in mind. Tabaco, just like any other place in the country, has already been stripped bare of its serenity. Bulatlat
