v11n0203

involved in the maguindanao massacre. They told my children
that the case would be heard in general Santos City although I
know full well that we filed the complaint in Manila.
when I learned that they misled us that the case would be
heard in our hometown in general Santos City, I knew that they
were telling us that we would also be at risk and our movement
in our hometown would be restrained even further. After this
we conducted a background check to know who these four men
were. we learned that they were actually not policemen assigned
in general Santos City but rather in the nearby municipality of
Alabel, Sarangani province. I developed further distrust and have
lost confidence with the police authorities due to this experience,
apart from the fact that it was also the policemen who took part
in killing my husband.
Outside our home
In December 2010, while a friend and I were waiting for a taxi
to go home we noticed a black tinted SuV with plate no. nOO-
404 close to us. At first when it stopped parallel to us and the
person inside opened the window and looked at me I thought
it was one of my relatives, that’s why I also looked back at the
driver. After several minutes, it parked in a nearby parking area
but switching on a hazard signal (supposedly on an emergency
stop) and the person inside kept the window open while looking
at us. On the second pass it turned around and stopped again
parallel to us. when we recognize that the driver of the SuV was
still looking at us we rode a taxicab right away. we noticed that
the SuV was really following us. So I spoke to the taxi driver that
the SuV car was following us and he should mislead the driver
of the SUV. After the incident we verified the plate number at the
Land Transportation Office (LTO) and we found out that there is
no registered plate number like this.
A close friend of mine informed me that I need to take extra
precautions because someone will talk to me and offer 3 million
pesos (uSD 69,500) so that I stop my involvement in the case. And
if I don’t accept the money it will be used as a reward to kill me.
A neighbour spoke to my son and told him that a former
neighbour named yoyong morados was asking about my
whereabouts. yoyong morados has a record of being involved in
a crime of arson before. he went into hiding for few years and
later joined a rebel group. For few years he did not return to our
village. he was using a motorcycle with no plate number and his
driver’s license had a different name written on it. my family had
a suspicion that yoyong morados has a connection with the three
million pesos for the value of my head.
Our request for protection was denied
After experiencing these continuing threats on my person, I
approached the Department of Justice requesting them to provide
protection for me, and my daughter, who lives with me. however,
article 2 � June-Sept 2012 Vol. 11, No. 2-3
“
A close friend of
mine informed me
that I need to take
extra precaution
because someone
will talk to me and
offer 3 million
pesos (USD 69,500)
so that I stop my
involvement
in the case.
35
”
- Myrna Reblando