Who Ordered the Killing of Jimmy?

Hole of Justice

By Peter G. Jimenea

 

Who ordered the killing of Jimmy?

 

I was shocked by the news that Jimmy Punzalan was shot dead at his restobar in Boliland, Bolilao, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. As reported, he was watching TV when gunned down by two assassins. Two days before the incident he sent me this text message:  

 

“TIME is definitely more precious than money and there is nothing common between them. We can’t accumulate time, we can’t borrow time, we can never tell how much TIME we have left in the bank of life. TIME is LIFE. Let’s enjoy and spend it with the family. Happy Family Day, good morning.” – JIMMY

 

Jimmy is a long-time friend and we often met at Red Paprika, one of the popular restaurants in Boardwalk. His constant companion is “Toto” Supremo, likewise a friend and we always share table with Melvin “Boyet” Odicta, Sr., the restaurant owner.

 

Sometimes, the topics are about illegal numbers game and I am only confined to listening as I am not a gambler. One time, in a long table we occupied, Jimmy invited “Boyet” in our presence to be his partner in this venture but the latter declined.

 

Odicta said; “Jim you are capable to run it alone. I’m already out of illegal numbers game. Besides, business partnership between friends can sometimes destroy a good relationship. So, it is much better if we just remain friends.”

 

We eventually realized he is correct. From then on, Jimmy is always present in Odicta’s birthdays and in other family occasions. Together with Supremo, they also frequented the place of Odicta in Brgy. Daga, Sta. Barbara and we often met there during my collection of his TV ad payment obligation.

 

Not only that. Odicta and Jimmy were even seen at Barangay Esperanza-Tanza,  enjoying a camaraderie with the few residents (who are my friends, too) in a drinking session. Having no illegal business to talk about, theirs was a smooth sailing friendship. I know Jimmy’s buddy “Toto” Supremo subscribes to this.

 

The police claimed they have already the names of the suspects. But everybody is still groping in the dark on who ordered the killing. Two media people went to Antique to interview Gov. Exequiel Javier about Jimmy’s death but declined the interview saying they are no longer interested in this case.

 

This writer believes the Javiers have nothing to do with Jimmy's death. I have the same honest belief that Odicta has no idea about the murder of Jimmy. There was nothing wrong with their friendship to plan the killing of a friend. In short, there was no angle to link “Boyet” Odicta in this case.

 

Other than his Gov. Evelio Javier murder case, Jimmy at one time told me that he had once shot a man at “Ihawan restaurant” in Solis St., Iloilo City. The man died but he was able to settle the case by paying the family. Other than that I also knew he had offended lot of people when drunk.

 

Being in construction business, this compounded the problem of the police. If Jimmy has offended somebody beyond forgiveness, his death did not solve the problem. Surprisingly, few popular personalities had suddenly disappeared in the city after the incident.

 

On why, we have yet to know. But the killing of Jimmy to get even is a concept of justice at odds with due process. Unfortunately, in the underworld business there are jealousy, swindling, double-cross and betrayal that if one’s character is destiny - that decides his fate.

 

In criminal syndicates, members are sometimes fighting each other for control of the trade or illegal activities in a turf. They failed to discover the secret of a long alliance between the notorious Sicilian Mafioso Lucky Luciano and Jewish mob Meyer Lansky who believed - that cooperation is sometimes better than competition!

 

But not here in this case. Despite the long experience of Jimmy as a constable, he failed to scrutinize his vicinity for hibernating enemies. He forgot that people engaged in illegal activities have no recourse to Court of Law for legal remedy in settlement of differences. Thus, death is their most logical solution to all judicial problems.