By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

AUSTRALIAN national Werner Holz, who was stabbed to death by three robbers inside his home early morning Tuesday, was a generous but strict person.

 

After retiring from the Australian police service, Holz and his Ilongga wife Vivian Posadas-Holz, moved to Brgy. Pili, Ajuy more than 10 years ago. The couple then purchased a 1.5-hectare beachfront lot in the said village.

 

Iloilo 5th district Board Member Jett Rojas said he encountered Holz on several occasions when he was still mayor of Ajuy.

 

Rojas said the Holz couple lends money to farmers aside from engaging in piggery and buy-and-sell ventures. The couple also bought a property in Iloilo City.

 

Rojas recounted previous issues involving Holz, particularly the Australian’s confrontations with residents and local officials of Ajuy.

 

“There was a time when he went to my office to complain about the fishpens in front of their beach property which he considered as eyesores. He wanted to remove the pens which the owners resisted because it is their only means of livelihood,” Rojas said.

 

The board member also recalled a confrontation between Holz and a punong barangay over the Australian national’s piggery.

 

Rojas said Holz closed a road-right-of-way which traversed the piggery to the chagrin of the residents.

 

“The local officials then asked my help to negotiate with Holz if he can donate a portion of his property for the right-of-way. It was resolved in the end but the road was not as convenient as the old path,” Rojas said.

 

Rojas said he noticed that Holz was very hard to deal with and “used very harsh words.”

 

“He was very strict and particular with his properties. But he was also generous to his neighbors and the community,” he added.

 

The provincial board member also noticed that the Holz were seldom invited to parties hosted by other expatriates in Ajuy.

 

“He seems to be an outcast. I was invited to these parties and I noticed that Holz was not present,” Rojas said.

 

Punong Barangay Emmanuel Asumbra of Pili said Holz was “a very generous soul.”

 

“He also participated in some of our activities, especially-sports related events. He even sponsored one basketball team with complete uniforms,” Asumbra said.

 

Asumbra, however, confirmed Holz’s strict ways when it comes to his properties.

 

Rojas said the police should consider in their investigation old grudges.

 

“This is the first time that this kind of crime happened in our town. And we are concerned that this will drive away prospective investors, particularly expatriates who want to reside and do business in Ajuy,” Rojas said.