Testimony #4 (victim is under sanctuary), Holy Eucharist Mass Action (HEMA) I, Our Lady of Victory Chapel, Malabon, Philippines, Feb. 2, 2017
Good afternoon. I am Ryan. I am 18 years old and I was caught in a crossfire during a supposedly drug raid.
I just finished eating and I was about to have my service bike repaired by the brother of my girlfriend. I went to my 15 year old friend and asked him to accompany me to the repair shop/house of my girlfriend. When we arrived at the house of my girlfriend, we saw someone with many stitches all over his body. We asked him what happened to him. And he said that he was shot many times in their province and that he just came out of the hospital.
The brother of my girlfriend played some music and my friends and I were enjoying ourselves.
Amidst all the good time we were having, a motorcycle slowly approached the house. And the cycle riders suddenly shot at us. We hid in the room of my girlfriend.
Then I went out of the room and I saw all my friends lying down…dead…even the mother of my girlfriend was not spared as well as a pregnant woman.
The irony of it all was that the suspect is alive while the innocent ones were dead. This was on December 28. I was working then but I could not report to work anymore. After that, I could not eat anymore. I could not sleep because of the trauma. Seven people died that night. One old woman, a pregnant woman, two men, one 15 year old lady and two 16 year olds.
I begged for the opportunity to live. I was also hit. I lied down and asked for help. The bullet is still in my body and I don’t know when it can be removed…when I can be operated on. That is all. Thank you.
- Testimony # 1 HEMA2, ¬National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Baclaran, Parañaque City, Philippines, March 2, 2017
I am a mother of a victim killed in Camarin, Barangay 174. All that I can say is that it is very painful to lose a child who I know was totally blameless and innocent. He was a lay minister and a Barangay Councilor.
He finished Business Administration because he wanted to help in our place. He ran for office because he wanted to help his fellowmen. Though it was not financial assistance that he extended. Nevertheless, he was sincere in his service and everyone who approached him for help found a caring Kagawad who was always ready to be of help.
It is very painful for us. He was such a good person, a kind man. Our Barangay knows the kind of person he was and our family as well. All I can say is that we need your help, your prayers that my son will find peace and that justice be found.
- Testimony #2 HEMA2¬National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Baclaran, Parañaque City, Philippines, March 2, 2017
My child was just a student. One night, his friends came to fetch him to visit other friends. At about 8 PM, we suddenly heard shots. Later on, we found out that my son was one of those who were killed.
It is so painful and I simply cannot accept this…that my son was one of those killed. And up to now, we are still asking for help to find out who killed the children. That is all.
- Testimony #3 Holy Eucharist Mass Action (HEMA) HEMA2- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Baclaran Pasay City, March 02, 2017
Good afternoon. I am one of the mothers of the seven who were killed in Barangay Bagong Silang 176.
If you remember, December 28 was the most painful day in the lives of us mothers who are present here today… like the one who shared her story before me. Her son was one of the seven killed. I am standing here as one of those mothers also. My son was one of the seven killed in Bagong Silang 176. It is most painful. The boys were not given the opportunity to live their lives well…but why is it that those who were innocent were the ones caught in the crossfire?
They did not know anything. So they could not run or escape. It is so hard to think that one brief moment, your child would be lost forever.
It was almost New Year’s Eve. And as 2016 was about to become 2017, what I was hugging was the coffin of my son. It was so painful. Just because he was wrongly implicated.
It is so hard, but I cannot do anything. All I ask of the Father is that whoever is responsible for this…whoever did this, He should be the one to punish him. As I said before, we don’t know who is responsible for this, but only God knows. He is the one who knows…who truly knows. Like I said before, here on earth, he might escape from the law of men, BUT in our Father’s law, I am sure that, I am very certain that…the killer will not be spared the just punishment due him… because it is written that “thou shall not kill and do not put justice in your hands,” if they are guilty or not. Thank you very much. (To be continued/PN)
