Parents of slain Spanish surfer seek Marcos help

THE parents of the Spanish surfer killed in 2020 in an alleged buy-bust sought an audience with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to seek his support in obtaining justice for their son, who regarded the Philippines as a «paradise.»

Alberto Bello and Pilar Lafuente are back in the Philippines to pursue the quest for justice for their son, as they thanked the National Bureau of Investigation, the Ombudsman and the Commission on Human Rights for helping them.

Speaking through interpreter Lally Hidalgo San Jose, Pilar on Wednesday said she and her husband «would like to have an interview with President Marcos, if possible, being the highest authority in the country.»

QUEST FOR JUSTICE Alberto Bello and Pilar Lafuente. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

Pilar said they believe the President «can make sure that the law is followed and [can make people] realize that this should never, ever happen again.»

She said Diego had considered the Philippines as his paradise.

«He wanted to raise a family here,» Pilar added.

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She said the local people «loved Diego, which is why they don't understand why this happened.»

Alberto said they lost their son, «but the Philippines lost an adopted son.»

They insisted that their son was not on any drug watch list, contrary to the claim of his killers, identified as Capt. Wise Vicente Panuelos and staff sergeants Ronel Pazo and Nido Boy Cortes.

«There was no trace of gunpowder in his hands, and he did not fire the gun. He did not have any drugs on him, and the autopsy did not show any trace of drugs in his body,» Pilar said.

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«In Spain, they would not understand why there were such delays in making justice [in the Philippines]. This case is very much alive in Spain. The [Spanish] press is very on top of things. They are monitoring it every day. When they were told that the suspects were not transferred to the city jail, they could not believe it. In Spain, if the judge issues an order, it is immediately implemented,» she said.

Pilar said Diego «knew very well that getting involved in drugs would create serious problems for him. He had traveled to Australia, Thailand, Mexico, Germany and England, „but he never had any problems with