Calatagan Declares Day of Mourning for Victims
CALATAGAN, Batangas – The town of Calatagan is in deep mourning following the brutal murder of three goat dealers. The local government declared June 5 as a Day of Mourning to honor the victims, Jhon Luis Olarte, 23; his cousin Gerry Ortega, 32; and their friend Ronald Alumno, 37. This solemn day reflects the community’s grief over the tragic loss.
Municipal officials, through Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 91, Series of 2025, ordered that all national flags within the municipality be flown at half-mast on June 5. “All national flags within the municipality will be flown at half-mast on said date as a sign of collective grief and respect,” local leaders shared on social media. The municipal government also assured full support to the families, standing firmly with them in their quest for justice.
Details of the Goat Dealers Murder Unfold
The three victims left Batangas on May 6 to deliver 10 hybrid goats valued at around P1 million to a buyer in Maguindanao del Sur. They were reported missing on May 11, and their bodies were found nearly three weeks later in a shallow grave in Barangay Nabundas, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur.
Authorities said the victims showed signs of violent death, with multiple gunshot wounds. Their hands were tied, and their eyes were blindfolded when discovered in a rubber plantation. Local officials have offered a P100,000 reward for any credible information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.
Families Speak Out and Community Reacts
The families of the victims clarified that the three men were not goat sellers but merely transporters. Their last known communication was on May 11, when Olarte told a sibling they were at a checkpoint and expected to meet the buyer within 15 minutes. After that, Olarte could no longer be reached and did not go live on Facebook, which was unusual during such transactions.
Upon arrival of the remains from Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, hundreds of residents lined the streets of Calatagan to pay their respects. The community united in condemning the appalling act and calling for justice.
The municipal government’s swift response and the collective grief of Calatagan underscore the deep impact of the goat dealers murder on the town. The authorities continue their investigation, hopeful that justice will soon be served for the slain men.
For more news and updates on the goat dealers murder, visit Filipinokami.com.