from Lilian de Vera…please read..
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 pleasures 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 QuiapoChurchon the above mentioned
date to pay homage and respect to the Almighty One. My
husband and daughter were supposed to pick me up in
PasayCityafter 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 was 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 would forgive my
husband for not answering my calls and for forgetting to pick
me up.
I felt relieved 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
slew 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 ammunitionsfired by the"men in uniform"
on 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 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 pain 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 are
responsible for their death will be punished, if I could
bring them the justice they so richly deserve, my pain 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
In Hotel 101 Manila.
4 months ago
