Mother of slain Tacloban student seeks justice for daughter, wants young suspects punished

The mother of a female student who was killed in the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City is calling for the two young suspects to be held accountable, saying they should face punishment despite being minors.

In an interview aired on GMA Integrated News’ 24 Oras, Jennylyn Badoria, mother of Joyancee Separa, said she wants justice for her late daughter.

“Gusto ko po silang makulong kahit menor de edad pa po, pero sanay na sanay na yung gumamit ng baril eh. So gusto ko pong makulong yun sa karapat dapat na parusa para sa kanila, kahit menor de edad po sila,” Badoria said.

(I want them jailed even if they are minors, because they already seem very used to handling guns. I want them to face the punishment they deserve, even if they are minors.)

Badoria recalled learning about the shooting through her eldest child, who showed her photos that circulated after the incident.

“Siya yung nagsabi sa akin, pinakita niya yung nareceive niyang picture na doon yung nakahandusay na batang babae at saka yung lalaki,” she said. (He was the one who told me. He showed me a photo he received showing a girl and a boy lying on the ground.)

Although she did not immediately recognize her daughter in the images, she said she was overcome with fear and rushed to the school.

“Takot na takot na po ako. Hindi ko na po alam yung naramdaman ko. Agad po akong pumunta sa eskwelahan na yun,” she said. (I was terrified. I didn’t know what to feel. I immediately went to the school.)

Badoria also said she was unaware that her daughter, whose nickname was Yassie, had allegedly recorded the video from inside the classroom that later circulated online.

“Honestly, hindi ko po alam ma’am na si Yassie po talaga yung nagkuha ng video. Hindi ko alam na siya pala yung nagvi-video na yun,” she said. (Honestly, I did not know that Yassie was the one who took the video.)

The grieving mother said nothing seemed unusual during her final moments with Joyancee before she left for school on that fateful morning.

“Yung umaga ng lunes po, bago po siya pumasok sa eskwelahan, as usual lang po, everyday namin na gawain,” she said. (That Monday morning before she went to school, everything was just as usual, part of our everyday routine.)

However, Badoria said she later remembered feeling unusually heavy and exhausted that day.

“Parang mabigat na yung pakiramdam ko, hindi ko alam, parang pagod na pagod na po ako, parang mabigat ‘yung paglalakad ko,” she said. (I felt unusually heavy. I don’t know why, but I felt extremely tired, and even walking felt difficult.)

Asked what she would tell the suspects if she were given the chance to face them, Badoria expressed both grief and anger.

“Sana kung kaharap ko sila, sabihin kong wag niyong patayin yung anak ko. Bakit niyo pinatay?” she said. (If I were facing them, I would tell them, ‘Don’t kill my child. Why did you kill her?’)

“Pero patay na ‘yun eh. So dapat kayong makulong. Maka-experience din kayo ng karapat dapat na parusa sa inyo,” she added.

(But my child is already gone. You should be in prison and experience the punishment that you deserve.)

Joyancee was among the three students who were killed in the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School on Monday. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA News