After 35 years of fighting for justice, the family of Rolando “Ka Lando” Olalia said the court conviction of the three killers of the lawyer and labor leader and his companion, Leonor Alay-ay, brought back their belief in the country’s justice system.
“For the longest time, our family has been languishing in a pit of despair brought on by the glacial pace of justice,” lawyer Rolando Rico Olalia, one of the children of Ka Lando, said.
“Today is a day of celebration and of restored belief in our judicial system. It is also a day of loss and a day of remembrance in honor of two brave and honorable men we were privileged to know as father and as a friend,” added Olalia, who was only 23 when his father was killed.
An Antipolo City court on Tuesday sentenced accused Desiderio Perez, Dennis Jabatan, and Fernando Casanovas to reclusion perpetua or maximum imprisonment of 40 years more than three decades after the gruesome murders took place.
However, the convicted former members of the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) were only three of the 13 individuals that were formally charged with the murder of Olalia and Alay-ay. The others remain at large.
Olalia identified the other suspects at-large as Cirilo Almario, Jose Bacera, Ricardo Dicon, Gilbert Galicia, Oscar Legaspi, Filomen Maligaya, Gene Paris, Freddie Sumagaysay and Edger Sumido.
He said his family’s fight for justice is not yet over, adding that only when all accused and unnamed principals are brought before the courts will justice be served.
“Our victory today has only stiffened our resolve to never abandon our search for the remaining 9 men involved in our father’s brutal killing,” Olalia said.
The family also expressed their gratitude to the National Union of People’s Lawyers, the panel of public prosecutors led by deputy Chief State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva, volunteer colleagues, Kilusang Mayo Uno and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.
In a separate statement, the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition said the court decision should serve as warning to human rights violators.
“A social reformer reminded us that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” Nagkaisa said.
“Though justice takes a long time, it does happen if the determination of those who pursue it is strong and persistent,” it added.
In November 1986, Ka Lando and Alay-ay were abducted by members of the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM), a group of military officers who attempted to seize power during the presidency of Cory Aquino.
“They were first taken to a safe house of then Minister of National Defense in Cubao. A short time after, both were blindfolded, bound, and tortured before being shot and stabbed multiple times,” the younger Olalia recalled.
“The bodies of our father and Ka Leonor were later recovered in Antipolo, Rizal on the following day, 13th of November 1986. We know all these with certainty because we have eyewitnesses to the fact,” he added.—LDF, GMA News
Olalia kin: Conviction after 35-year wait restored belief in justice system
Source: Pinoy Hub News
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