FEU student denies kidnapping, says she left home ‘to serve people’

The member of Anakbayan who has been reported missing by her mother denied that she had been kidnapped by the militant youth group, saying she stayed away from home due to family issues related to her membership in the organization.

In a Facebook post, Far Eastern Univeristy student Alicia Lucena said that she joined the militant youth organization on her own. 

“Hindi po ako nawawala o nakidnap. Nagpasya akong umalis ng aming bahay dahil lagpas isang buwan na akong naka house arrest dahil sa kagustuhan kong maglingkod sa bayan,” Alicia Lucena wrote in a Facebook post.

“Nandito lang po ako at isang personal na issue ng aming pamilya ang pasya ko na hindi umuwi sa amin,” she added.

Alicia's mother Relissa Lucena on Wednesday testified before the Senate Committee on Public Order that the 18-year-old senior high school student had gone missing and alleged that she had been kidnapped.

Relissa earlier filed complaints against Anakbayan officials for the Alicia's absence.

The respondents were Charie del Rosario, Bianca Gacos, Jayroven Villafuente Balais, Anakbayan national president Vencer Crisostomo and Anakbayan secretary general Einsten Recedes.

They are accused of kidnapping and of violating the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act; the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act; and the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other crimes against humanity.

Alicia urged her family to stay away from the armed forces of the government, claiming that they are the real terrorist.

She said she is open to reconcile with her parents, but, according to her, not in a situation where the military is using their personal issue.

“Bukas naman akong makipag ayos at mag-usap, but not in this situation na ginagamit ng military ang kalagayan natin to justify the rampant human rights violations and to water down the legitimacy of the youth's initiative to forward the democratic calls of the masses,” Alicia said.

She also told the government not to use her and her family to cover up its ‘inutility and rotten administration.’

“Muli, I joined Anakbayan voluntarily. I was never coerced to do things na hindi ko gusto o gumawa ng bagay na beyond sa aking pagpapasya,” Alicia said.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, chairman of public order and dangerous drugs committee which conducted the hearing, said Alicia’s parents would not look for her if they can see her.

“Hahanapin ba sya ng parents nya kung hindi sya nawawala?” Dela Rosa told GMA News Online when sought for comment on Alicia’s statement.

He added that it would be better if the FEU student would show up and go to her parents to prove that she is not missing. —NB, GMA News