Justice for Senly Loy’s family / AIDS/ HIV

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – Justice may grind exceedingly slow in this Banana Republic like in the case of the killing of prominent businessman Senly Loy 14 years ago in this city.

           The seven accused in the murder were recently sentenced to 40 years imprisonment after they were found guilty recently of kidnapping for ransom with homicide.

            Those found guilty were transferred to the national penitentiary in Bicutan, Manila after languishing in the provincial jail in nearby La Trinidad, Benguet after their capture a few months after committing the crime.

            In a 29-page decision penned by Regional Trial Court branch 60 presiding judge Maria Ligaya V. Itliong, on Dec. 21, the accused, Paul Sumbad, Reymond Dulaycan, Gastrol Sarol, Jason Ling-lingan, Roger Agtulao, Cromwell Filog and Danny Palapag were sentenced to reclusion perpetua.

                ***

The court also ordered the accused to pay the heirs of the victim P800,680 as actual damages; P70,000 as civil indemnity and P200,000 for moral damages.

          The two other accused- Eddie Bagni and Jefferson Ab-aboy, who were used as state witness after admitting to the crime were spared.

         Loy was kidnapped on March 18, 2004 at Dizon Subdivision, Baguio City.

         Two months after he was taken by the assailants, on May 17, 2004, his burnt body was found by the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force operatives dumped in Barangay Abiang, Atok, Benguet.

           Media reports then said those found guilty still demanded ransom from Loy’s family even if he was already dead.

                ***

The sentencing and transfer of the guilty would start a new lease in life for the victim’s family who had pursued for years justice for the head of their family whose life was cut short by the felons out of greed for money.   

                ***

I remember Senly as a kind, humble and unassuming man. He was introduced to me by Jimmy Chan, proprietor of the Wild West pub, the biggest and most popular bar in Baguio then which featured musicians from Olongapo City who opted to stay in Baguio after bars were closed in the former American military camp. A lot of homegrown talents also performed in the pub. 

           Even international singers like the Cascades have jammed incognito in the nightspot much to the surprise of the audience but that is another story.      

                ***

The number of people afflicted by Human Immune Virus (HIV), Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STDs) is growing by the day and according to health officials, prevention is still the best policy in combatting the dreaded diseases.

                ***

In Bontoc, Mountain Province, Dr. Diga Kay Gomez, municipal Health officer, urged concerned government agencies and stakeholders to help in information drive on prevention and awareness to combat the dreaded diseases.

               In observance of the recent World AIDS Day in this capital town, copies of a hand book were distributed entitled “HIV –AIDS for health workers” provided by the Dept. of Health, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Remedios AIDS Foundation Inc., a report by Alpine Killa, municipal information officer bared.

                ***

The book explained HIV is transmitted from one human being to another through unprotected penetrative sexual intercourse with an infected partner; unsafe blood transfusion, unsafe injection; and from an HIV-infected mother to her child during pregnancy, labor, delivery and through breast feeding.

            Accordingly, HIV hits the body’s defense mechanism that act against viruses. Immunodeficiency means the body is unable to fight infections making it susceptible to pneumonia, tuberculosis and cancer.

AIDS refers to clinical manifestation of HIV infection that are only seen when the body falls ill due to opportunistic infections.

                ***

The handbook said HIV cannot be transmitted through air, saliva, urine and feces, mosquito bite, talking with person with HIV, borrowing clothes from an HIV-infected person; sharing utensils and drinking from the same glass with person living with HIV, shaking of hands, embracing and kissing, toilets and swimming pool.

          DOH officials have often urged the public to follow the ABC method to prevent the transmission of HIV-AIDS and STIs. ABC stands for abstinence, Be mutually faithful or loyal to your partner and consistently use condom.

D means don’t use drug and do not share needles. E is educate yourself and early detection.

          The theme for this year’s observance of World AIDS Day is “know your status,” which aims to urge people to know their HIV infection status through testing and basic information.

          Have a safe new year.