Antique to celebrate 19 th EBJ death anniversary

By Jun Escalona , Antique Bureau Chief

San Jose, Antique—Simple yet meaningful activities are lined up here today, February 11, to commemorate the 19 th death anniversary of Antique folk hero Evelio B. Javier.

Saint Anthony's College will hold an EBJ Memorial Marathon at 6:00 a.m. followed by flag raising ceremony and wreath-laying with military honors at the EBJ Freedom Park .

A floral offering at the EBJ monument will follow to be led by local officials Rep. Exequiel B. Javier, Governor Salvacion Z. Perez, and Vice Governor Rhodora J . Cadiao .

A Eucharistic mass will also be celebrated at the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral, after which a tree planting will be done at the back of the Old Capitol Bldg.

A cultural NGO, Paranublion , will cap the day's celebration with Halad kay Evelio at 6:00 p.m. at the EBJ Freedom Park .

Evelio was gunned down late in the morning of February 11, 1986 at the San Jose public plaza, now named after him, at the height of the canvassing of election returns for the snap presidential elections between the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and former Pres. Corazon C. Aquino .

It is said that Javier's death triggered the EDSA people power revolt on February 25 that ousted Marcos and installed Filipino martyr Ninoy Aquino's widow in Malacañang .

In October last year Antique RTC Branch 12 presiding judge Rudy Castrojas rendered a decision convicting eight suspects in the killing of Javier but acquitting alleged mastermind, former Assemblyman Arturo Pacificador .

Sentenced to life imprisonment were Pacificador's lawyer Avelino “Bob” Javellana , former Philippine Constabulary Captain John Paloy , Vicente Vegafria , Ramon Hortillano , Henry Salaver , Eleazar Idemne and Rolando Bernardino.

Accused Henry Seguerra was sentenced from 6 to 14 years in jail for being an accomplice.

Also acquitted in the case were co-accused Jose Seguerra , Oscar Tiauson and Jimmy Punzalan .

Except for Seguerra , all those found guilty of Javier's murder were also found guilty of the frustrated murder of Dolores Barte and the attempted murder of Divino Bermudes , Blasito Juada , Bernie Salcedo and Mariano Cabrera.

They were each sentenced to a minimum of nine years and a maximum of 17 years for frustrated murder and a minimum of three years and a maximum of nine years for each of the four counts of attempted murder. They were also ordered to pay damages to the victim's heirs.

Barte , Bermudes , Juada and Salcedo who were at the vicinity of the public plaza when the assassination happened suffered gunshot wounds when the gunmen pursued Javier.

Two other accused, Eduardo Iran, alias Boy Muslim, and Pacificador's son Rodolfo, were not sentenced because they are still at large.