LITERARY
November 2017 - April 2018
: Provincial Director Cavite Police Provincial Office General E Topacio St. Poblacion 1-A, Imus, Cavite
FROM
: Chief of Police, SPS
SUBJECT
: The Break-In/Shooting Incident That Resulted to the Death of JUAN DELA CRUZ
DATE
: February 11, 2018
S
1. On February 11, 2018 at around 1:00 in the morning, residents of Kalye St., Baryo, Cavite woke up to sounds of screaming from the Dela Cruz residence—seemingly an argument between two men—followed by three gunshots. The suspect then fled from the scene and was promptly pursued by bystanders, and was later identified as PEDRO SANTOS, 28 years old, married, farmer, and resident of Malakas Village, Baryo, Cavite. Upon arrival at the scene, JUAN DELA CRUZ, 32 years old, single, market vendor, and resident of Kalye St., was found on the floor with several gunshot wounds in his chest. He was rushed to the Baryo Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival (DOA) by the attending physician thereat. 2. The suspect did not put up a fight, but was crying and praying fervently when he was brought to the station. “I did not mean to shoot him. I really didn’t. I was just so angry—I was not thinking!” He was asked repeatedly why he did it, but he refused to answer. “Real men don’t tattle,” he insisted. 3. According to MARIA BERSAMINA, cousin of Pedro Santos, Dela Cruz did not pay Santos for the rice he harvested the day before, claiming it had low quality and “wasn’t worth the 150 pesos”. However, Santos had a sick daughter, and he needed the money to buy her medicine. He allegedly tried to talk to Dela Cruz and ask for the money, but the latter refused to cooperate. This was when the screaming began. The Senior Inspector took this as a cue to investigate Santos’s background, and found out that he did not actually have a daughter, but a 4-month-old son. 4. On the other hand, NEZAIDA MARTINEZ, neighbor of Juan Dela Cruz, claimed it was a spat over a woman. Apparently, Dela Cruz had slept with Santos’s wife. Martinez believed Santos learned about their clandestine relationship and was enraged. She even declared having seen Mrs. Santos sneak out of Juan’s house before her husband came. However, the CCTV footage showed a cat running off into the night instead of a woman at around 12:50 in the morning. 5. Meanwhile, ISABEL SANTOS, wife of Pedro Santos, firmly denied the affair and said she suspected that both her husband and Dela Cruz were involved in drugs. She claimed that ever since he met Dela Cruz, Santos had acquired a “funny scent” and was once grumbling about the former not paying him back. However, further testing and investigation on Dela Cruz revealed that he neither used drugs nor had any in his house. 6. At this point, the Senior Inspector started to realize that she must not rely on hearsay and that chismis will get her nowhere in solving this case. 7. The weapon used in the commission of the crime was surrendered to the station and the cadaver of the victim was moved to the Regional Crime Laboratory Office for autopsy. 8. Progress Report will follow.
Elli Amado
a pamamagitan ng pagsibol ng hangin sa dalampasigan, ako’y napatungo sa aking pinanggalingan. Hindi mawari kung nasaan ang dating tagpuan, na nagtataglay ng tiyak na kaginhawaan. Ngunit ako’y biglang tumilapon, nang nakarating sa hinahangad na paroroon, na para bang sinakluban ng sako ang tinatamong kinabukasan, at walang awang binugbog ng mapait na paglipas ng panahon. Ano na nga ba ang nangyari sa minahal kong nasyon? Tila ba parang isang ibon na nalaglag mula sa kanyang katipon, walang habas na sinayad ang balahibo sa bubong ng nalagas na bansa,
na parang pag-asang unti-unting kinulong ng nangalawang hawla, at ako’y napaluhod nalang dahil wala na siyang natanaw na tala. Ngunit, sa ganitong pagkakataon para sa tulad kong umaasa, isang kalabit ang natamo mula sa ngumingiting bata, sabay pakita ng kanyang natatagong pagkabihasa, sa larangan ng kaibuturan ng pagiging makabansa. Ang kanyang ngiti’y tila ba’y nakakahawa, Sabay tulo ng luha sa kanyang kanang mata. “Wag kang mag-alala,” ang kanyang wika, “Bayan man ay lumipas, ako’y patuloy na kakaripas.”
Everyday Shadows
D
Liana Bongao
ive not into what made all the difference Rather in what was once the united front To act with competence and not just damaged ignorance And forego what can easily be undone The naïve sense of security one would relish Isn’t but a dream far gone, sailing across uncharted waters And what we’re doing is something dark and something hellish
KATHERINE ANNE DEL ROSARIO Senior Inspector
“Pepe” Kim Nicole Toledo
B
lue stands for the willingness to sacrifice oneself for freedom, peace, truth, and justice. In a serene state, his feet marched towards his final stance; without any remorse crippling inside him, without any guilt, and with the burning passion in his chest, he looked up once again and adored the pearl that he had always fought for. Red stands for courage and patriotism. “Fuego!” The firing squad heard the command and every bullet pierced into his body—he decided to turn around to see the firing squad that had a vivid mission to end his life. The golden sun with eight rays symbolizes unity, democracy, and sovereignty. His body betrayed his commands; instead of facing the firing squad, it turned to the right—directly to the morning sun. He saw the revolution that was bound to happen, the thirst he let his countrymen feel.
17
BayPas (Bayang Lumpas)
MEMORANDUM FOR
La Estrella Verde
White is liberty and equality. The white and pure clouds hovering above witnessed his life—the way he ignited light, the way he fought, and the way he craved for freedom. “Consummatum est,” he spoke, as he closed his eyes.
Art by Ayumi Wada
What remains a problem left unattended, a potential slaughter Neither discrete nor hidden, our shadows thrive off fear Perhaps pitifully lyrical but still here