CAGAYAN, Philippines-The statue of former Gonzaga Mayor Carlito Pentecostes Jr was unveiled to the public just as the townspeople commemorate his fourth year of death.
The bust, located in the entrance of the municapal hall, was a golden metal and about 6 feet.
It featured a smiling Pentecostes in his Barong Tagalog outfit.
The unveiling ceremonies gathered Pentecostes family, friends, and supporters.
A 21-gun salute was conducted for his “heroic” accomplishments in the town, officials said. The gun salute is a high honor given by military.
On Saturday, April 21, no less than Colonel Romulo Quemado of the Philippine Marines led the gun salute.
In an interview, Gonzaga Mayor Marilyn Pentecostes, the wife of late mayor, described the people’s mood as “very silent” during the ceremonies.
“Masakit [pa rin ‘yung loob nila], kasi mata-touch ka doon e,” the lady Pentecostes said.
She added that people considered the mayor as their “hero” due to “numerous” projects and accomplishments he had done during his stint as mayor.
While the family moves to heal the pain brought by the brutal killing of Pentecostes, they said it is not yet the end of their pursuit to bring perpetrators to justice.
Mayor Marilyn said they have witnesses that can stand “strong” as evidence.
These witnesses, however, are afraid to come out in open due to their fears for their lives.
The family earlier claimed an “influential” politician from Cagayan is behind the killing of Pentecostes. Northernforum.net
