Mothers of minors recruited by leftist groups turn emotional at Senate probe

MANILA, Philippines —  Several mothers of minors allegedly recruited by leftist groups  turned emotional when they faced a Senate hearing on Wednesday.

Among them were Jovita Antoniano, Relissa Lucena, and Luisa Espina , who narrated  before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs the pain of being abandoned by their children, who joined  leftist groups like Anakbayan.

Lucena even admitted that he thought of killing herself when her daughter, a student at the Far Eastern University (FEU), decided to quit her studies and left their home.

She said it all started when her daughter joined the group Anakbayan and later became an officer of the organization.

“Sabi ko anak, huwag ka dyan kasi delikado, dahil gagawin kang frontliner …against po ako dun pero hindi po ako against sa pinaglalaban nya,”  Lucena said.

She said her daughter left their house for three days so she reported it to the police and FEU.

When her daughter returned home and found out that she went to the police and her school, she even got mad at her mother.

“Sabi nya po sa akin kalaban na daw ako. Isipin ko daw wala na akong anak, Lucena said.

“Lumuhod ako sa anak ko. Sabi ko anak, hindi ko naman alam yang mga ganyan.. Anak ayusin natin…Sabi nya hindi,  kalaban na daw ako.”

Despite this, Lucena said she managed to convince her daughter to return to school but she left them again for the second time.

“Nag iwan po sya ng sulat. Yung sulat po na iniwan nya sa akin , parang ang sama sama, dinurog po nya ang puso ko  to the point po na sinukat ko din yung pagka nanay ko. Halos mag commit po ako ng suicide,” he said.

INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

Antoniano, meanwhile, said her daughter was a stay-in student of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

She said her daughter was recruited by the League of Filipino Students and Anakbayan. Her last communications with her, she said, was on August 5, 2018.

“Wala po akong idea kung nasaan ang anak ko. Hindi  po namin alam kung saan lalapit dahil wala po kaming communication,” Antoniano said.

All the while, she said, she thought her daughter was safe in her school as they were not aware there were organizations inside the university.

“Yung mga rally, hindi po namin alam  kung bakit kelangan ng mga anak kelangang nasa rally…,” Antoniano said.  /muf