Two months ago I considered myself as one of those blessed and happiest
people on earth. Why not? I married a guy who was an epitome of
kindness. A guy who worshipped even the footsteps I made. More
importantly, our union blessed us with a daughter who not only became
the main source of our happiness... .more so; she was the center of our
lives.
We're simple folks who led a simple life. We felt the happiest even
about mundane things and inconsequential ones that most people would
only take for granted. Our joy mostly revolved on simple pleasure like a
sudden trip to Jollibee or a late night marauding of the fridge for any
leftovers. A perfect family with simple delights, dreams and
aspirations. .........until that fateful night on December 5, 2008.The
day my husband and daughter were taken away from me in a very violent
way. That Friday night on December 5, 2008 marked the beginning of all
the terror, anguish and misery in my life.
In keeping with my ritual or "panata" on every first Friday of every
month, I went to Quiapo Church on the above mentioned date to pay homage
and respect to the Almighty One. My husband and daughter were supposed
to pick me up in Pasay City after which we planned on giving our
daughter a treat to Jollibee. While riding the jeep, I tried to call my
husband to tell him that I'm on my way to our meeting place.
But despite all the calls I made, my husband remained silent. A very
unusual occurrence inasmuch as he seldom missed my calls. Despite my
trepidation and wonder, I took the next jeep going home and prayed that
everything was alright. I even promised to myself that I will forgive my
husband for not answering my calls and for forgetting to pick me up.
I felt relieve when near our place my phone rung. Such relief was
somehow only momentary... .in fact the phone call I got was the bearer
of the worst news in my entire life. My helper called, only to tell me
that my husband and daughter were shot to death by "men in uniform". The
same men who were sworned to protect innocent people from bad guys
brutally slained the two most important persons in my life. They were
the same men whose sacred duty was to preserve the lives of the public
against all harm and danger. Yet.......they were the same men who
murdered my love ones in the most cruel, savage and inhuman way.
My husband's face was unrecognizable because he was shot in the head at
close range while he was kneeling with his head bowed down. My
daughter's young body was riddled with bullets, one hit her head,
blowing her brains out., all from too powerful guns and ammunitions
fired by the "men in uniform" to two innocent and defenseless persons.
The "men in uniform" were allegedly on a mission to take some gang of
robbers victimizing people at large. The police shot the crosswind van
my husband and daughter were riding Based on some witnesses'
narration, the police sprayed bullets into the van despite the lack of
provocation or shots coming from the crosswind van. In his last effort
to save their lives, my husband grabbed my bloodied daughter and
shielded her with his body while trying to run away from the police and
tried to get cover from a parked jeepney My husband and daughter were
so defenseless. How can you mistake a child for a robber? How can you
shot at someone who was already kneeling with head bowed, an indication
of helplessness.
My husband and daughter are gone.......forever. The pains I feel for
their lost is too much too bear. And the only thing that motivates me to
go on with life is the mission to seek justice for their senseless
killing. If the people who were responsible for their death will be
punished, if I could bring them the justice they so richly deserve, my
pains would be alleviated. The misery I will live by will be lessened.
My husband and daughter will be vindicated and I will learn to live the
remaining years of my life in peace.
Thus: I'm asking and begging everyone who will come across this
letter/e-mail to forward the same to all your relatives, friends, and
acquaintances. Help me bring my cause to the eyes of the people capable
of steering the wheel of justice to the right direction. Help me make
the loudest cry worthy of attention by those people in-charge in
rendering justice to those who deserve it..
Strength comes in numbers; it is where the impossible becomes possible.
It is also where the unattainable becomes achievable.
My heartfelt gratitude for everyone who will take a moment in their too
busy lives and forward this letter/e-mail to everyone they know.
May God always protect you and your love ones from all harm.
Lilian de Vera
