The Moon And The Milkman /p

The Moon and the Milkman

Tricia Mae David

Ate, ang ganda ng buwan, ano? masaya niyang saad. Alam mo ba kung ano’ng pangalan ng buwan na ‘yan? turo ko sa madilim na kalangitan. Napanganga ito marahil sa pagkamangha. Natawa na lamang ako sa naging reaksyon niya. May pangalan po sila? inosente nitong tanong. Iyan ang waxing crescent... Waxing crescent? hirap niyang

bigkas.

Ang waxing crescent ay ang unang hakbang tungo sa pagiging buo… nanghihinang batid ko. Bumaling ako sa kapatid ko. Kamilla, sana ay matuto kang bumangon kapag ikaw ay nadapa. Maging positibo ka lang at huwag mong kalimutan ang iyong pananampalataya. Tulad ng waxing crescent, nagsisimula ka palang sa yugto ng iyong buhay. Marami pang pagsubok ang iyong haharapin, kaya magpakatatag ka. Gawin mong inspirasyon ang mga pasakit upang ika’y maging buo… All rise to the presence of Honorable Jordan Pimentel, someone announced. Nanginginig ang aking katawan nang tumayo ako. The court starts to pick its juries since the trial will be trialed by jury. 5 years ago, I started. The court decided to close the case since it believed that the accused has no motive because of his neat criminal record and a scarcity of evidence to prove that he is guilty. During the entire trial, the defense focused on using the victim’s mental abnormality and manipulation of the law to save the accused from his punishment. With the newly evidences I sought, I filed a petition for new trial which got approved… This time I will make sure that wealth will not overpower the law. Today, I re-prosecute the rape case of Kamilla Cosme issued on 2015 as commanded by Your Honor and the law… I summon Denmark Aguirre to the witness stand.

A boy who is aged 18 walks straight to the witness stand. I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, Denmark stated. You’ve just pledged the affirmation oath. I expect honesty from you. He nodded. Let’s start then, I said, clearing throat. Do you have evidence to prove that you’re there when the crime happened? Walang pasabing kinuha niya ang wallet sa bulsa at ipinakita ang may kalumaang litrato. Dalawang bata ang naroon; babae at lalaki. Malaki ang kanilang mga ngiti habang nakaupo sa may duyan sa palaruan. Gabi iyon dahil sa repleksyon ng ilaw sa kanilang mga mata. I will not ask more… I want you to tell us what you saw that night… I said, ignoring the pain in my chest. With his lips trembling, he spoke… T-they raped her… He looked me in the eyes. Apat sila. Tatlong lalaki ang humawak sa kaniya, at isa… pahina nang pahina ang boses nito. Is that rapist here with us? Can you point him out, Mr. Aguirre? I commanded. The court became more tensed unlike a moment ago. Objection, Your Honor! The prosecutor exclaimed, standing angrily. He was the same lawyer who presented the Mayor years ago. On what grounds? T-The prosecution is violating Section 17, Article III of the 1987 Constitution! I smirked. Your Honor, the defense failed to look after the rights of the 1987 Philippine Constitution under Article 3, Section 4 of the Bill of rights, I said calmly. Objection sustained. Prosecution, continue! Denmark pointed the accused. The defense fell in silence. The people exploded in surprise. Nagkasalubong ang aming paningin. Kinagat ko ang aking labi para mapigilan ang luhang nais bumagsak dahil sa galit. Can you elaborate what happened… please? I said, pleading. It was 6:39 P.M. when Kamilla and

and I decided to meet at the playground. We were happy. I also asked my cousin to take us a picture for remembrance. Minutes had passed; I asked her consent if I could leave her for a while to buy ice cream… I just… wanted to surprise my friend since she had mentioned that her sister has to leave for law school and that made her upset…. Pagkabalik ko, wala siya sa lugar kung saan ko siya iniwan. Kaagad ko siyang hinanap. Nang makarating ako sa may kadilimang parte ng parke, I… my heart and mind fought if it’s right to go near her… she was screaming and surrounded by four men… I tried… but I saw that the man was armed. Napaurong ako… at nanood lang. They took away her innocence and I only listened... he then, to my surprise, plays something to his phone. It is her screams for help, cries in agony, shouting in pain. I apologize for letting it happen, Attorney… he said, looking straight into my eyes. Y-Your Honor, for more evidence, let me present a power point presentation, I said.

Please, proceed. As what you have heard, the trial that happened 5 years ago was injustice. The law freed the accused through the help of some politicians and use of wealth— Objection! Your Honor, the prosecution is trying to yield allegations that have nothing to do with the case! Objection, overruled. Continue! Exhibit 1, these are some photos showing the allegiance built between the accused and the politicians… They all look at the screen, shocked. Exhibit 2, these are the rare photos of the bruised body and an autopsy of the victim that was strictly kept from the public… Mas lalong lumakas ang bulungan. Exhibit 3, let’s all watch this confession of one of the companions of the accused that night… Nakita ko ang pagkagulat sa dating

mayor.

Traydor! Kasinungalingan ang lahat ng ito! sigaw nito kasabay nang pagsasalita ng lalaki sa monitor. Ako po si Alfredo Lansangan, tatlumpu’t anim na taong gulang. Sampung taon na po akong nagtatrabaho bilang gwardiya ng pamilyang Alfonso. N-nung gabing iyon, hindi ko iyon ginusto. Lasing ako at wala akong nagawa kundi sumunod sa utos… S-sinasabi ko ito dahil hindi na kaya ng konsensiya ko. May anak na babae rin ako at hindi ko masikmura kung sa anak ko mangyayari iyon! Si Mayor – malakas na putok ng baril ang umalingawngaw bago naputol ang bidyo. Napapikit ako ng mariin. Ilan pang buhay ang kukunin nila para sa sariling kapakanan? With the evidence and testimony presented, I can safely say that the defense put the law before them, I stopped, to breathe. I therefore suspend the bail of those politicians and invoke the power of Republic Act 7610, which provides stronger deterrence and special protection against child abuse for the remaining accessories of the crime. Matapang akong humarap sa mga

tao.

Thus, to bring justice to the victim, Kamilla Cosme, I demand the accused of capital punishment, as per Republic Act 8353, Article 266, whenever the rape is committed with the use of a deadly weapon or by two or more persons, the penalty shall be Reclusion Perpetua to death… Then I smiled, my eyes are filled with tears. I now rest my case. Everyone gasped. No person inside the court can believe it. The regional trial court of Pampanga, proved accused Mayor Fidel Alfonso guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the rape case issued 5 years ago of the 12-year old girl, Kamilla Cosme. T-That can’t be! Attorney Ty exclaimed. Then three strikes of the gavel echoed in the court. The court is adjourned, as said by the judge. Iyak lang ako nang iyak. Binabangunot ako. Naririnig ko ang paghingi niya ng tulong sa bawat paghaplos sa kaniya. Naririnig ko ang pagmamakaawa niya sa malademonyong halakhak nila sa bawat pagsabi nito ng ‘tama na’. Biglang umihip ang malakas na hangin. Mama? Hindi ko makita ang mukha nito dahil masakit sa mata ang liwanag na nagmumula sa kaniyang likuran. Lumapit ako sa kinatatayuan niya. Malamig. Gusto ko siyang yakapin ngunit alam kong hindi na pwede… nag-iilusyon na naman ako. Napaluhod ako sa sobrang panghihina. Humagulgol ako. Walang ibang salitang maririnig kundi ang pag-iyak ko.

Illustration by

Mikaela Faith Hinton

Ang sakit. Tila kasalanan ko pang ginahasa siya. Ako ang nakakulong rito. Wala akong kalayaan. Naramdaman ko ang pagluhod ni Mama sa tabi ko, ngunit nanatili lang akong nakayuko. Humiling sa buwan at kaniyang tutuparin, Ang liwanag nito ay ‘yong sundin na rin, Tanggapin ang inihahandog nitong gabay, Sa bawat madilim na parte ng iyong buhay, pagtutula nito. Napaangat ako ng tingin. Sa pagkakataong ito, ang maliwanag na ngiti nito ang sumalubong sa akin. Nasa unang yugto ka pa lamang ng iyong buhay sabi nito at tumingala sa kalangitan. Katulad ng buwan, at sa paglipas ng mga araw, magiging buo ka rin kapag ikaw ay handa na, turan niya sa pamilyar na salita. Tulungan mo ang kapatid mo, Anak… Protektahan mo sila…. Karylle, Denyse called for the nth time. Why didn’t you just indoctrinate someone to kill them in return for what they did? I smiled weakly. Even though I want to, I just can’t… No children shall suffer abuse. Abuse is immoral and no court of law will tolerate

it.

Fighting abuse with abuse is against me, I answered, lighting the candles on her grave. You may now rest in peace, Kamilla…

Photo by

Dominic John Musni