‘Of heinous crimes and shattered dreams’

(Editor’s note: This is a letter written by the mother of murdered fraternity neophyte Leonard H. Villa, Lenny to his friends, on the occasion of her son’s birthday. Leonard would have turned 34 today.)

Dearest Leonard,

34 years ago, I gave birth to you. Your Papa and I were very happy to be blessed with a healthy baby boy.

Our happiness became complete when you became kuya to your sister Tina, whom you loved dearly.

You showed great promise as a young boy. You may not have been perfect, but in our eyes, you were. We were truly proud when you were accepted at the Ateneo de Manila Law School in 1991. We knew then that someday, you would be a fine lawyer, just like your Papa.

I don’t really know why you decided to join the Aquila Legis. It may have been the brotherhood and camaraderie that enticed you. Whatever it may be, I would never know because on Feb. 10, 1991, you were killed, keeping with you the answers that we will never know.

Up to now, it pains me to even try to imagine how much they hurt you, how they savagely beat you up, how you flinched at every painful blow.

Your Papa and I tried to pick up the pieces of our lives after you had gone. We knew that with the escalating number of heinous crimes being committed, we had to do something concrete for the victims and their families whose number steadily increased everyday.

In your memory, and for the sake of the countless victims of senseless crimes, your Papa, together with Mr. Anders Hultman, Maureen’s dad, decided to form an organization to be composed of families of victims of heinous crimes. As a collective force, it was hoped that the bereaved families would have a chance to get justice.

Your Papa and I, the Hultmans, Prosecutor and Mrs. Bernabe, Ellis and Grace Maguan founded the Crusade Against Violence. We had a common bond as we were all struggling to pick up the pieces of our lives after the senseless and brutal deaths of our loved ones.

Now that your Papa is gone, I try to derive strength from the memory of both of you, the two men whom I have loved the most. Upon his death, I took over the chairmanship of the CAV, and I am proud to say that it has developed into an organization that continues to provide a package of assistance to all those who have been hurt by heinous crime. We try to transform the negative feeling of loss and anger into something positive, that is, preventing other people from being victims like you.

Carina Agarao, the CAV’s third president, spearheaded the change in the general thrust and direction of the organization. Now, we are actively involved in addressing the flaws of the justice system to make it more responsive to the ever-changing needs of the times. By doing so, we hope to renew the faith of our countrymen in our legal system.

We have won some cases as CAV provided lawyers on a pro bono basis when the victims’ families could not get one. We have worked closely with the police for the immediate arrest of suspects. We have been successful in convincing witnesses to testify in court.

We take pride in the fact that the Feliber Andres case was promulgated only seven months after it happened despite the fact that the accused was highly connected. We were also instrumental in the conviction of the accused in the Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong murder case, even if the accused is a scion of a prominent Cebu family!

We know that the list of victims shall go on and on. If only we could find a way to stop crime in our country, we would. We would like to see the day that peace would reign and our organization, the CAV become obsolete.

Leonard, you would have been 34 today had you not gone before us 12 years ago. Often, with a smile on my face, I daydream and see you as a tough but principled, fair and unwavering lawyer, extending your assistance to victims of injustice. Truly a man for others as the Ateneo has instilled in you. Alas, I could only be with you in my thoughts and prayers.

Because the Court of Appeals acquitted 17 of the 26 Aquila Legis fraternity members accused of killing you, I am determined to continue the fight for your sake. It warms my heart to know that your former classmates who are now lawyers have offered their assistance in seeing your case to its conclusion. Your spirit continues to inspire me to strive for peace and justice; not only for you, Leonard, but also for the many more like you and their families whose hopes have been dashed by senseless crimes.

May the candles on the birthday cake that I will prepare in your honor tonight, serve as the guiding light to lead us to our unending quest for the peace, truth and justice that we all truly deserve. Happy birthday, Leonard, my son.

Love,

Mama

(A Mass to celebrate Lenny’s birthday will be held today, Oct. 10 at the Santa Maria della Strada Church, Katipunan Road, Quezon City at 10:00 a.m. For inquiries, please contact the National Headquarters of the Crusade Against Violence at the 14F Sagittarius Building, HV dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City or call 8130473 or 8130483 or (032) 4134295 (Cebu).