A FISTFIGHT THAT LED TO LAWYER'S MURDER

A fistfight that led 
to lawyer's murder

"Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured." MARK TWAIN 

By Alex P. Vidal

The recent murder of a promising lawyer in Hamtic, Antique has once again proven that tempers could led to tragic altercation and violent death. 
In anger management, we had been warned that in the heat of the moment, it's easy to say something we will later regret. That we should take a few moments to collect our thoughts before saying anything -- and allow others involved in the situation to do the same.
Had cooler heads intervened or had the protagonists not resorted to violence after a verbal spat, Atty. John Mark Espera, would still be alive today.  
Based on initial police investigation, the killing of Espera, 39, started in an argument with suspect Virgilio Suarez in Brgy. Pu-ao, Hamtic, Antique last August 31 that led to a fistfight.
Reports said Espera was with one Romeo Gasalao and were about to board their car at around 11:30 in the morning when they met Suarez near the suspect's house. After a heated exchange of words, they engaged in a brawl where the lawyer fell in the canal.

BROTHERS

At this juncture, Suarez's two brothers -- PO3 Jose Suarez and Provincial Guard Rico Suarez-- arrived and joined the fray. Ruby Remedios, also a lawyer and wife of the victim, claimed in a recent press conference it was the cop Suarez who first shot Espera with a 12-gauge shotgun in the stomach while the provincial guard brother disarmed Gasalao.
As Espera grimaced and struggled, another Suarez brother, Raymund, shot Espera with a .22 caliber, the wife added.  She said Virgilio finished off Espera with an M-16 riffle in the head.
The wife, holding the press conference beside the victim's coffin, wanted to correct initial reports that it was her husband and Gasalao who provoked the altercation that led to the grisly murder.

CUSTODY

As of this writing, only the cop Suarez was in police custody while the other brothers remained at large.
"The killing is a chilling reminder how cheap life is, even that of a lawyer, nowadays and, worse, perpetrated as it is by a police officer who is duty-sworn to protect lives and properties. Whatever the ultimate reason and motive to be uncovered for this senseless cold-blooded murder, there are indications that this may be an attack on him by virtue of the exercise of his profession. In any case, this is unacceptable in any civilized society," read the statement issued by National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) Secretary General Edre U. Olalia.
Espera was a supporter of Mayor Julius Pacificador while the suspects are reportedly allied with the Javiers. Investigators did not rule out politics behind the murder.

FORGIVENESS

Another step to avert violence is forgiveness which is considered a powerful tool. If we allow anger and other negative feelings to crowd our positive feelings, we might find ourselves swallowed up by our own bitterness or sense of injustice.
But if we can forgive someone who angered us, we might both learn from the situation. It's unrealistic to expect everyone to behave exactly as we want at all times.  
When our temper flares, we are supposed to put relaxation skills to work; to practice deep-breathing exercises, imagine a relaxing scene, or repeat a calming word or phrase, such as, "Take it easy." We might also listen to music, write in a journal or do a few yoga poses -- whatever it takes to encourage relaxation.