Proclamation No. 1972

"Paanong nangyari na ang anak nila mrs benavidez ay napuntang mindoro at pinatay ang biktimang si Jessie ho, kung ang naaakusahan na si Mr. Gerald Benavidez ay nagtratrabaho sa maynila sa sinasabing oras ng krimen" Tinitigan ko ang taong witnessed daw, na pinaniniwalaan kong binayaran at tinakot para magsalaysay ng mga gawagawang salaysay. "objection your honor, Atty Dela Fuente are harrassing my client's witnessed" Bwelto ng bobo at bayad ng malaki na abogado sa harap ko. I smirked and clenched my jaw, before i talked and made realized to all the people and judge inside this court that this case was just a waste of time. "Objection your honor, I am just asking the witnessed about his statement since Mr. Gerald Benavidez proves that he's still on duty in Ermita, Maynila when the time of murder happened" "How can you prove that Mr. Benavidez is telling the truth?" Sagot naman ng bobong abogad ng kabilang panig. I bring the white folder to the table of judge, before speaking up. "Your honor, those are the evidences, Records even the signatures of the employees in Aling Nena's Grilled Restaurant In Ermita, Maynila, Records and signatures of those who's in duty on 24th of August 1998. I also have the copy of the cctv of the said restaurant capturing Mr. Benavidez doing all his works on the time of the said murder of Mr. Jessi Ho in Mindoro." Tumagal pa ng isang oras ang hearing bago mapagpasyahan ng husgado na case under monitoring of evidences ang hearing. Masasabi kong maipapanalo ko ang kaso na ito dahil hindi ko hahayaang may makulong na inosente. "Atty. mila" si mrs. Benavidez, ang nanay ng kliyente ko. "Yes, mrs. benavidez is there anything i can help you with?" She smiled at me, "Wala naman ho, Ang katunayan nga nyan eh, gusto ko pong magpasalamat sainyo sa pagkuha ng kaso ng anak ko, alam ko hong wala akong maibibigay na kapalit ng serbisyo nyo saamin pero sana tanggapin nyo ho ito" She gave me a kind of a blanket with a beautiful prints on it. "Naku! Nagabala pa ho kayo, Alam nyo naman po na ang serbisyo ay para sa mga taong totoong nangangailangan ng hustisya. Hindi ko ho kailangan ng kahit na anong kapalit" She bit her lips, as she looked down before speak up. "Ayan ho ay isang pasasalamat lamang" She said. "Maraming salamat ho, mrs. benavidez sa susunod po ay wag na kayong magabala" I smile back at her before leaving the court. As soon as i became a lawyer, i worked for people who doesn't afford a lawyer that's really gave justice. I become as a lawyer not because of the money but for the human rights, and justice for those people who really deserves it. I was about to get in my car when my phone rings "Yes mama" It's mama, Felicidad Baquiano, "How's the trial?" She asked, "Good, Case under the monitoring of the evidences" i casually answered her, "Well, that's great hija. what's your next appoitment then?" she said. "Coffee? i don't know mama, i don't have any appointments for now" i said, before entering my car. "What about going home for dinner?" She offered, "A great idea mama, otw" i said with so much excitement in my tone. "Okay honey, See you have a safe drive!" she said before putting off the call. I keep my phone inside my bag before starting my car's engine, It was a longdrive for me since i'm living in my condo in taguig and i need to drive all the way from here to pangasinan. It's past 8 in the evening when i reached Hacienda De Baquiano, It was my family's property. I grew up here since i was 8, i became lawyer because of the love and support that the owner of this property gave me. I have all the respect for them. "Milagros, our daughter!" My mama greeted me with so much excitement, She welcomed me with a big hug, "I really miss you hija!" she said, "I miss you too, mama" i answered. After a long tight hug, I greeted my brother, "Long time no see kuya juancho" I smiled at him, He gave me a peck of kiss on my right cheeks. "You really did a great job mila" he said. After a warm welcome and greetings, we had a family dinner. The last time i had a dinner with them, was very long time ago that i can't even remember when did that. "By the way, where's papa?" i said, when i noticed that i didn't see him until now. "He just went in parañaque earlier in the morning, he needs to manage some paper for your brother's campaign this coming october" my mama replied. "He didn't even bother to tell me, atleast i met him earlier" i said, before chewing up my food. "We know that you're very busy person right now because of your cases and trials, so i think that's the reason why papa didn't tell you" Kuya juancho said. "well, i can't deny that. But we can also meet each other before he came back here naman, i can make time with family always" i said. "Are you gonna stay for tonight?" Mama asked me, "Yea i think so, it was quite late already and i'm a bit tired na so i think it's better for me to leave tommorrow morning" i answered. We finish our dinner and i decided to stay for the night since i really need to take some rest. I go to my old room to take a rest already, this room holds so much grudge and lovely memories as well. This room is a witnessed for my breakdowns, unsaid battles and self motivations. This room reserves the same vibe as before. The dolls, my old furnitures and my childhood scent was still here. I was about to go in my bathroom to take some bath, but i got distracted by the familliar picture frame on my side table. It was my family picture. My mom and dad, it was a sepia colored picture, It really looks old but the feeling was still strong. I really missed them so much. My journey now as a lawyer was really because of them. I promised until my last breath that im gonna make them taste the justice for your death. I will make them pay and forgive of what they've done to you. After a quick bath, i dry my hair before going to sleep, it was a very long tiring day but tommorrow is another battle for me that i need to get ready. "What's my schedule for today?" I was in the phone call with my secrety, cely. I overslept and ending up to wake up late, it's now 9am, and still driving off to manila. I forgot to set an alarm yesterday, what the hell! "2pm meeting with Mr. Romualdez regarding for his trial in 14th of september." Cely said in a cool down town, "what about this morning?" i asked. "No appointment for this morning ma'am" she said. I sighed as i get relief that i don't have any appointment, because if there's any i might get really in a trouble for getting late. I decided to go home first at my condo in taguig to freshin' up myself before my appointment at 2pm. 11am when i reached my unit, I go straight off to my kitchen to get some iced tea for myself. After i get a drink for myself i sat down on my study table to review some documents. I have 4 cases right now. Hindi ganun karami ang kaso na hawak ko unlike other lawyers since mapili ako sa kasong hahawakan ko. I don't use my professionalism as a living, and that's for sure. It's about 4:30 in the afternoon when i finish my meeting with one of my client, Papa just called me earlier and he said he wanted me to meet him before he'd go back to pangasinan, So i set a dinner date for two in a fine dine restaurant in okada. "There you are, milagros" He greeted me with a big smile on his face, he gave me a peck of kiss on my right cheeks. "What a great woman you've become" He added. "What a pleasure for me to meet again one of a great man i've ever met" i said, he just giggled and offers me to sit. As we wait for our orders, we just talked about the politics and some casual father and daughter talks. "So what are you planning for the future mila, you didn't want to go for politics?" he asked. "Papa, that's not my main priorities for now. Helping citizen who doesn't afford justice is my main goal for now" i said. "Well, its just me. But you have a very well platform and advocacy don't close your door for politics, you have a great future for that" he said. I just smiled and focus on my food. We spend almost an hour for our dinner. "Have safe drive home papa, see you!" I gave him a peck of kiss on his cheeks and he just waved his hands on me before entering the car and leave. I was about to enter my car when a familliar face got my attention. It was a man, he really looks familliar. He's wearing a polo short, he looks very neat but there's something inside me that i don't like him, something saying that i must get mad at him. I just stared at him, when i realized that he was also looking at me. He looks very confused maybe because he caught me. I looked away immediately, and enter my car right away. when i finally enter my car, I still see him looking at my car very confused. I think he's thinking that i got strucked by her face like duh, Never. "Statement and evidences, that Ho's family and witnesses are questionable and weak. Loss of evidence necessary to prove defendant commited the crime. Judges in high honor, dismissed the case with prejudice and will no longer can be brought back at the court" Court room became loud as the Case was dismissed with prejudice. I smirked and looked at the other party, I see how they got dissappointed and mad. Serves them right. After the trial, Benavidez family almost bended their knee on me because we won the case. I am really grateful that i didn't dissappointed them because they did not deserve it. "Atty. Mila maraming maraming salamat ho, siguro po kung hindi ninyo kinuha ang kaso namin ay malamang sa malamang ay nakakulong na ngayon ang anak ko sa kasalanang hindi naman nya ginawa" Mrs. Benavidez almost broke her voice because of the happy tears. "Trabaho ko po ang tulungan kayo, Wag po kayong magpasalamat dahil yan po ang tungkulin ko bilang abogado" I said. After a heartwarming thankyou's we finally said goodbye, "I really had a great journey with this case Mrs. Benavidez, I've learned a lot of lesson. Hope we can meet sometime but not in the court room". I hugged Mrs. Benavidez one last time before leaving the court room. A Great case i've won again. This is such an achievement. An innocent man proves done nothing wrong against the law. This is the justice. But it is not even a half of a thousands of cases of those innocent facing the consequences because of those paid actors who acted like a victim one. Mauubos din kayo. Infavorable justice doesn't even have a space in this country. Mababaliktad din ang sistema ng bansang 'to. Pinapangako ko yan. Weeks passed, and it's still the usual, cases, trials, meeting, and readings all the way. My profession is actually a bit tiring but i enjoyed it. I am really thankful that i became a lawyer, it's not yet beyond of my goals but atleast i see the improvement of how i gave justice for those people who deserves it. It was a friday night of December 1978, i woke up because of the loud voices i heard from our living room, As a 8yr old kid i was curious of what happened it was quite strange to me because my parents won't talk to each other like that so i decided to run downstairs to see what's happening. As soon as i get down i heard a gunshot 3-4 times and there i saw my parents, with a bloodbath. A gunshot in both of their head that left them in shock that made their eyes remained open. They're lifeless, that's the only thing i ever knew in that moment. In front of them is a guy, about 5'8 in a height. Wearing a black mask while holding the gun he used for killing my parents. After a moment of silent, the guy notices a girl behind him which is me. I though he'd gonna kill me, like what he did to mom and dad but... He just looked at me in both of my eyes, i see nothing on his eyes nor guilt. His eyes was just like my parents, lifeless. We took about 5minutes just staring, looking at each other's eyes then he left. He left me with my lifeless parents. I did not cry, i was in shocked. I just look at them, my chest was heavy to the point that my heart wanted to get out of my ribcage. I am screaming inside of me, I wanted to cry, I really do. But i just can't. It took an hour before our neighbor notices about the murder in our house. Police came, media came, ambulance came. Voices and camera shots are everywhere. I saw how the medics put white blankets on my parents dead bodies. Yet, i did not cry. I wasn't even said anything even though everyone were asking me of what happened. The next thing i knew i was in theit funeral. My Parents funeral. It feels like it was yesterday when mom used to wake up me at 7 in the morning, while i typically saw dad, at his study table reading articles and cases. That was the memories i ever remember when i slowly watched their cast getting down on the ground. And finally, after days of suffering and being traumatized, i cried. That's when i realized the fact that i was all alone. Nightmare. I wanted to wakeup in the reality, i wanted to hear my mom's voice waking me up every morning, i wanted to feel how tight my dad's hug are. But then i remember, this is not a dream, not even a nightmare. This is the reality i must faced forever. A reality that no more mom's voice every morning, that no more dad's hug at the very end of the day. Because from that night, i am no longer have a parents. No longer a sweet cookies in every christmas. I feel like i was betrayed by the universe. But then, I met the bacquiano's. They made me lively and whole again. But still can't deny the fact that i still have a missing piece, a missing piece that no one can ever replace with. Mommy, Daddy. I am Attorney. Milagros Dela Fuente. I hope i made you proud. Mama and Papa, made your little girl as a grown up woman with dignity and passion of helping every filipinos who's in lack with the right justice. And to the man, who killed my parents. Thankyou, for letting me live. I know someday, in a right time, in a right place. But the time where we crossed our path again i will make sure that it's gonna be on the court room, and make you pay for taking my parents life. Atleast if it's not you, i will take back all the justice that you and your family takes away from this country. History might never repeat once again. Never. Again. "Att. mila it's getting dark, i think we need to leave na" it's cely. "wait me in the car, just gave me a second" i answered, "Alrigh atty" she answered. I wipe my tears as they run down on my cheeks. "21years, 21years without you mom and dad. Living without you is hard enough but atleast, you guys made me strong enough to face the pain everyday. Till next time mommy, daddy. Your milagros always love you" I let cely drive for me, I am not okay. Atleast once in my life i claimed that i am not okay. My chest hurts, my eyes were swollen. The tragedy of the past was still here, the pain and heartaches. It was still here, and it'll remained here. "cely, can we go stop muna sa coffee shop need some coffee to calm myself" i asked. She just nodded and smile while her eyes are still on the road. We just stopped by the coffee shop, to calmed myself and to atleast get back to my senses, "Cely, i'll just go to the wash room need some retouch, i look so miserable" I said, She laughed and looked at me bitterly. "What a beauty to be a miserable, not very you atty." she joked. Well, i think it's a joke. "That's what you guys all knew" I said before leaving her. i washed my face, and do some retouch, just to made my face looked lively again. After i put a light makeup, i decided to get back with cely since it's getting late already. "Atty. mila" I looked everywhere when someone just called me, and there i saw one of my client before. I just waved my hands at them and gave them a smile since i am not in the mood to talk with someone rightnow-- "OMG!" I get back to my senses, when i realized that i accidentally spill someone's coffee. "Omg, i'm really sorry i wasn't looking at my way i'm really sor--" i was paused for a moment when i saw a familliar face. It was him. At the okada. That neat guy with a polo shirt. "You. Again." He said out of shock. "What a coinsindende" He added. I can't build any words right in front of him. I hate the feeling of how i get strucked by her looks. He really looks... expensive. |• case being dismissed "with prejudiced" is over and done with and longer can be brought back at court. case being dismmissed "without prejudiced" means the opposite. It's not dismissed forever. The person whose case it is can try again. Cases are also dismissed voluntarily, by the person who filed the case, or involuntarily, by a judge. ©source. ILAO