Family hopes justice will prevail in death of female AFP officer

STA. CRUZ, Ilocos Sur – The family of 2Lt. Jessica Chavez is hoping that justice will be served after the young military officer’s mysterious death inside her room at Fort Bonifacio last year. This, as the military tribunal hearing the case is scheduled to render its verdict next month.

Jessica’s father Efren, 44, who just graduated as company commander of the First Ilocos Sur Civilian Armed Auxiliary Unit last Tuesday here, told The STAR that the decision will be out on July 9.

"Patuloy ang minimithi naming justice para sa aming anak (We continue to hope for justice for our daughter)," he said.

Jessica, one of the 10 female graduates of Philippine Military Academy Class 2000 (Sanghaya), was found lifeless on her bed on Feb. 9 last year with a bullet in her chest apparently from her caliber .45 service pistol which was found beside her body.

She was only 22 and single. She was assigned to the 191st Military Police Battalion at Fort Bonifacio right after her graduation from the PMA.

Just after her death, Efren and his 43-year-old wife Melwella ruled out suicide as a possible angle, saying their daughter was a jolly girl who did not have a reason to take her own life.

2Lt. Jinky Perez, her best friend and mistah (PMA classmate), believes so, saying Jessica had no "negative attitude."

The police and the National Bureau of Investigation conducted separate investigations into Jessica’s death which her family, fearing a whitewash, had sought.

Firearm mishandling?

Maj. Ramon Dizon, Jessica’s commanding officer, told The STAR after the tragic incident that it could have been a case of firearm mishandling, saying, "Even the best shooters in the (Armed Forces) meet accidents like this."

However, Efren, still grieving from the loss of his daughter — the first female PMAyer of the entire Ilocos Sur — claimed that material evidence proved that Jessica had no powder burns.

"At bakit nila pinakialaman ang crime scene (And why did they mess up the crime scene)?" he asked.

Aside from the alleged violation of Articles of War 96 and 97 filed with the Armed Forces’ Judge Advocate General’s Office, a complaint for obstruction of justice against the Armed Forces has been filed with the Taguig Regional Trial Court.

"Hinihintay din namin ang resolution noon (We are also awaiting the resolution of that complaint)," Efren said.

He said they would bring the matter to the higher courts if the court martial’s decision will not favor their quest for justice.

Despite the tragedy, Jessica’s 10-year-old sister Charissa, her father admitted, also wants to enter the PMA.

Jessica had always wanted to become a pilot, but the height requirement of the Air Force (five feet and four inches) prevented her from flying a fighter plane, her parents said.

"But she was very happy with her achievements," they added.

Efren pleaded to Jessica’s mistahs to help them seek the truth behind her death. During the PMA reunion in March 2001, they wore armbands and displayed a huge streamer. — Artemio Dumlao