Wives of recent EJK victims, Martial Law desaparecidos swap tales of loss

One lost her husband  to motorcycle-riding killers on her birthday in July while the other lost hers to still unidentified abductors 37 years ago.

Their time spent mourning will never be the same but their pain seemed strikingly similar.

Nene and Phoebe Chrismo were among the loved ones of victims of recent extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances during Marcos' Martial Law who shared their heart wrenching stories on All Souls' Day at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

Nene's husband, a drug suspect and tricycle driver, was killed on her birthday in July. He was supposed to make a few tricycle trips to earn some money to buy pancit for her.

"Sabi ko sa panganay ko, 'Nasan si papa mo?' Sabi, 'Maaga umalis, maagang nagbiyahe kasi kukuha daw siya ng pangbirthday mo, pandagdag pansit.' Sabi ko sa panganay ko, 'Pag si papa mo dumating sabihin mo nasa simbahan lang ako'," Nene said.

"Kalahating oras pa lang po ko sa simbahan sabi ng panganay ko, 'Ma lumabas ka muna, si papa binaril sa pilahan nila ng tricycle,' Parang bigla akong nabingi sa sinabi ng anak ko," she  shared at the event dubbed "Libong Kandila at Panalangin para sa Libo-libong Biktima ng Karahasan" on Thursday.

"Riding po ang tumira sa kanya. 'Yung birthday po na sana icecelebrate namin, napunta po sa lamayan. Pagdating ko po sa pilahan ng tricycle, nandoon na po wala na pong buhay," Nene said.

Nene said she had no idea how to fend for their 11 children when she's only a laundrywoman.

"Onse po ang anak ko. Paano ko pa po bubuhayin? Binubuhay ko po sila sa paglalabada, pag walang labada wala silang baon. Walo po ang estudyante ko," Nene said.

Nene lamented how her beloved husband was not given the chance to change his life.

"Umaano naman po ako doon sa sinasabi ni Presidente na ano 'yung mga droga. Ibig ko lang sabihin sana binibigyan nila ng pagkakataon. Ipakulong nila, handa naman akong ipaano 'yung asawa ko. Handa naman akong ipasuko siya. Kaso agad siyang binawian ng buhay," Nene said.

Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) member Phoebe Chrismo also shared how painful it was to lose her husband.

She has been searching for Romy Chrismo for 37 years.

FIND member Phoebe Crismo still looks for her husband who has been missing for 37 years. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/wHYnr7xNl6

— ????Anna Felicia (@annafelicia_) November 2, 2017

They were supposed to be enjoying their honeymoon stage, but Romy, an activist, was abducted four months after they were wed.

"Nagpakasal po kami nung 1980, four months later siya ay dinukot at winala ng mga militar sa Tuguegarao, Cagayan. Nakita po ng kanyang mga estudyante na pumasok na sa gate... nakita nila siya na naglalakad papunta sa kanilang building ngunit hindi roon nakarating," Phoebe said.

Until now, no one could provide her any information as to the whereabouts of her husband.

"Hinanap ko po siya. Nagpatulong ako sa pulis, mayor, Philippine Army, pangalanan niyo po 'yung mga pulis offices at investigation, civil positions, lahat po nagsabi tutulungan ako. Lahat naman ay nagsabing wala, walang Romy Chrismo dito," she said.

Nene and Phoebe joined other family members of victims of alleged extrajudicial killings and desaparecidos in a gathering held at Bantayog ng mga Bayani on Thursday afternoon.

Through candle lighting and offering of flowers, the activity aims to remember victims, assert the truth about human rights situation in the country and urge the Duterte administration to stop perpetrating violence against people.

"Sa aming pagbubuklod, tatlo lamang ang aming hangarin. Una magkaisa kami at magtulong-tulong upang hanapin ang aming mga winalang mahal sa buhay. Pangalawa magdemand ng hustisya at pangatlo manawagan sa estado upang itigil ang practice ng sapilitang pagwala," Phoebe said. —NB, GMA News