Slovak PM vows justice for slain Pinoy

A 36-year-old Filipino financial analyst named Henry John Acorda (pictured) on May 26 was beaten on the sidewalk of the Slovak capital of Bratislava after he defended his female friend from men who were harassing her. (Photo: Jack Tranter/gofundme)

MANILA, Philippines — The Slovak Prime Minister assured that justice will be served in the case of a Filipino mauled to death in Slovakia.

A 36-year-old Filipino financial analyst named Henry John Acorda on May 26 was beaten on the sidewalk of the Slovak capital of Bratislava after he defended his female friend from men who were harassing her.

“It cannot be tolerated that murderers are allowed to freely walk down our streets,” said Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pelligrini.

“These are very bad signals for our society,” Pelligrini said.

“We can show no mercy to this murderer. Justice must be immediately delivered,” he added.

Acorda died from injuries he received from the beating.

Media reports said that his attacker Juraj Hossu, a 28-year-old Slovak citizen from the town of Dunajská Streda, pushed Acorda to the ground and repeatedly kicked him in the head.

Police rushed to the scene and found an unconscious Acorda lying on the pavement. He was brought to Bratislava’s hospital in critical condition and died five days later.

Hossu has been arrested and was charged with manslaughter. Acorda’s family, who flew from the Philippines to Slovakia, was in attendance at the hearing held on June 4.

According to The Slovak Spectator, Hossu told journalist outside the court that he was sorry for his actions.

In an interview with ABS-CBN news, Acorda’s elder sister, Mina Acorda Baylon, said that their family was supposed to pay her brother a visit last month.

“Supposedly, December 2017 kami pupunta pero sabi niya, ‘Ate Mina, baka hindi matagalan ni Mommy ang winter dito. Springtime na lang kayo pumunta,’ which is May talaga. Nakapunta kami nang May pero patay na siya (Supposedly, we were to go in December 2017 but he said, ‘Sister Mina, Mommy might not endure the winter here. Come in springtime, instead,’ which is really May. We were able to come in May but he is already dead),” Acorda Baylon said.

Yesterday, a gathering was organized in the city of Banská Bystrica to commemorate Acorda’s bravery. About 100 people joined the one-minute silence and candle-lighting ceremony for Acorda.

Martina Strmeňová of Not in Our City, the organizer of the gathering, commended Acorda’s courage that led to his death.

“Henry became a victim of human brutality, but also the atmosphere in our country. It’s inevitable for people to bravely stand up for humanity and tolerance,” she was quoted as saying in a TASR newswire.

“There is no place for violence and extremism in democracy. It is our task to show that we won’t tolerate evil and violence,” she added.