Surigao awaits remains of favorite son

SURIGAO CITY — Surigaonons await the remains of their favorite son, former senator Robert Barbers, who died of a heart attack at the Medical City in Pasig on Christmas Day.

Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra said he and city official were saddened when they learned of the death of the 61-year-old Barbers.

"We are all mourning Senator Barbers’ death," he said.

The city is preparing for the return of Barbers’ remains on Friday, said Casurra, who served with Barbers at the Surigao City Council before becoming mayor of the second biggest city in the Caraga region.

Surigaonons expressed mixed feelings of disbelief and shock when they learned about the sudden death of their favorite son.

Hurt most are Barbers’ loyal political allies, supporters, local leaders and officials who supported him throughout his political career.

Barbers’ local political foes were also shocked about the passing away of a man they described as a "worthy political opponent."

They extended condolences to the bereaved family of Barbers, one of the most influential political leaders in Surigao, the Caraga Region and the rest of Mindanao.

One of Barbers’ closest political rivals, former Surigao del Norte governor Francisco Matugas, could only "sigh" in disbelief upon learning of the former senator’s death.

"I hope people will understand it is not easy to issue a statement about the former senator’s death. It might be misinterpreted as a political statement, but no one of us are exempted as we all go back and face our creator. I hope everyone of us will face our creator in peace," Matugas said in a telephone interview.

Barbers’ mother, former Surigao del Norte vice governor Regina Barbers, and his sons Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers left Surigao del Norte for Manila Friday despite heavy rains to fetch his remains.

The father of Barbers, retired Judge Felix Barbers, is the brother of retired police general James Barbers, a former Manila vice mayor and Western Police District superintendent.

Leaders of the House of Representatives want Barbers buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, just like National Bureau of Investigation director Reynaldo Wycoco.

House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles of Davao City and Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon, son of Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, made the proposal to President Arroyo.

"He is more than qualified to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani after his great service to the nation," Nograles said. "He should be buried as a hero."

Nograles and Biazon issued the statement in reaction to the decision of the Barbers family to bury him at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque.

"He (Barbers) is qualified because he served in the police," the two lawmakers said.

"As a retired colonel, he is entitled to be buried there. As a former senator, it also gives him the privilege."

In Makati City, relatives and friends of Barbers flocked yesterday to the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park to pay tribute. 

Dante Jimenez, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption founding chairman, said the "nation weeps for it has lost another good man" following the passing away of Wycoco.

Both were men of integrity who served the country well as dedicated public servants who could not be dictated to nor influenced by the powerful, he added.

Jimenez said Barbers, a retired police colonel, was an advocate of the death penalty like the VACC, and that his death is a big loss to them.

"Pulis pa ’yan pero (When he was a policeman he was) a very good man, we have validated his character ourselves and his kind is very rare," he said.  

"Powerful people who have direct links with syndicates fear him. He was a very good man like Wycoco was.

"Barbers knows drug lord protectors well as those backing kidnap-for-ransom and hired killer groups still serving in government. Had he lived longer, he could have given good inputs in the anti-terror bill," Jimenez added.

Barbers’ widow Virginia and son Robert Dean Barbers, Philippine Tourism Authority general manager, received guests at the wake.

Among those who visited the Santuario de San Antonio were Mary "Rosebud" Ong and former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Jose Cuisia. — With reports from Michael Punongbayan, Delon Porcalla