By Lynde Salgados
Correspondent

AS the murdered son of 1st District Rep. Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy will be laid to rest on Saturday morning, at the Oro Garden in Cagayan de Oro City, the bounty on the heads of his killers has skyrocketed to a mind-boggling P12 million.

From the P2-million pledge by Mayor Oscar Moreno and the city government of Cagayan de Oro, it swells to P4 million after a similar amount being guaranteed by the grieving Uy family.

Then friends from the business circle and private individuals had come to pitch in more, making it now P12-million with the hope that it could ensure a speedy resolution of the twin midday murders.

Incumbent Barangay Carmen Kagawad Roland Sherwin ‘Tawee’ Uy, 45, was comfortably seated on a wooden reclining chair when two unidentified men in a motorcycle reportedly arrived at their family-owned quarry site in Barangay Pagatpat, this city on November 11, pretending as customers.

After answering their query on the price of a truckload of sand and gravel, the suspected hired killers repeatedly shot Tawee with a .45-caliber pistol.

The perpetrators did not spare his 73-year-old caretaker Samuel Pabalan who also received some of the nine bullets pumped on them.

“Kami mag-ampo ug manghinaut nga matagaan og kaangayan ug hustisya kinsa man ang nagsugo ug naghimo sa maong paghunos sa usa ka kinabuhi,” said Barangay Canitoan resident Marley Lagumen who called the eldest son of Klarex Uy as “akong binata sa kasal.”

Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go also comforted Rep. Uy and his family in a video message sent on the Facebook Page of the city’s first district legislator.

“It is with deep regret that I have learned the passing of your beloved son. I am with you. May God bless and protect us all during this trying time,” said Go in his video-recorded voice.

Rep. Uy is thankful to their supporters, some of them had even initiated a “piso-piso” campaign in their unified call for justice.

“Ang among tibook pamilya nagapasalamat sa tanang nakigduyog sa atong kausa para mahatagan ug hustisya ang dili makatarunganon ug wala’y hinungdan nga pagpatay kang Kuya Tawee ug Tatay Samo,” said Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin ‘Kikang’ Uy.

“Daghan kaayong salamat sa mga nag-abag ug nagpa-abot sa ilahang mga kinasingkasing nga tabang niining panahon sa pagsulay sa among pamilya. My deepest gratitude and prayers for all of you,” he added.