Mrs. Relisa Lucena shows a copy of the Writs of Habeas Corpus and Amparo petition filed before the Supreme Court on Friday (May 8) for her daughter, Alicia Jasper Lucena, who was allegedly recruited by alleged communist-linked groups. (PNA photo by Marita Moaje)
MANILA – No words can describe the pain only a mother could feel with the separation from her beloved daughter.
Weeping every day since her then 17-year-old daughter, Alicia Jasper (AJ) left home to join militant group Anakbayan, Mrs. Relisa Lucena said she will not cease until she gets her daughter back.
“Hindi naman ako lalabas ng ganito kung wala silang kinuha sa akin. Hindi siya gamit, hindi siya pet, anak ko siya eh (I will not be here today if they did not take anything from me. She is not an object, neither a pet. She is my daughter),” Mrs. Relisa Lucena said.
In an interview Friday, Mrs. Lucena said AJ, 16, was in Grade 11 and a consistent honor student at the Far Eastern University when she was recruited by Anakbayan in 2018.
Though active in several school organizations, she was a caring and sweet daughter to her parents, and sister to her siblings, she recalled.
Mrs. Lucena said she almost lost her mind when AJ left home on July 10, 2019.
“Hindi ko kayang manahimik sa loob ng bahay habang ganito yung nangyayari sa bata, ganito yung nangyayari sa anak ko (I cannot afford to just stay at home and do nothing while my daughter is in this situation),” she added.
She said she saw her daughter in August 2019 when the Makabayan bloc had AJ interviewed by the media at the House of Representatives.
“Wala akong kinuha sa kahit kaninong anak ng Makabayan Bloc para ma deserve namin yung ganitong sitwasyon. Yung mga anak nila nasa safe, kami ng buong pamilya lalo na yung lolo’t lola niya umiiyak, nangungulila sa kanya. Hindi lang naman ako yung apektado kundi buong pamilya naming (I did not take any children of the Makabayan Bloc for us to deserve this. Their children are safe, while my daughter isn’t. Me and my family especially her grandparents are always crying, longing for her. I am not the only one affected but my whole family),” she added.
As the whole world celebrates Mothers’ Day on May 10, she admits that the special day has never been the same since AJ was taken away from their family.
She appealed to communist-linked groups to return her daughter.
“Hindi ko isusuko yung pagiging nanay ko kahit na anong mangyari. Kung kailangan ko humingi ng tulong kahit kanino gagawin ko para mabalik sa kin ang anak ko. Hindi ako nang-aagaw ng ibang anak. Anak ko yun, ako yung nagsilang, samin siya lumaki, kami ang nag-alaga, minahal namin ng totoo kasi anak naming yun. Wala silang karapatang ipahamak yung bata (I will not give up my being a mother whatever happens. I will ask help if needed, just to get back my daughter. I am not taking away anybody else’s daughter. She is my child, I gave birth to her, took care of her. We loved her because she is our daughter, and they do not have any right to put her in danger),” she said.
Lucena, who along with her husband filed a petition for writs of habeas corpus and amparo before the Supreme Court, said she believes her daughter is a victim thus, giving her more reason to get her back.
Accompanied by members of the League of Parents of the Philippines and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, the Lucena couple filed the petition against Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago and members and recruiters of Anakbayan, to produce Alicia as she fears for her health.
“Biktima yung anak ko. Hindi siya rebelde. Biktima siya ng deceptive ideology na ininput nila sa bata. Kilala ko si AJ, kilala ko siya mula pagkabata. Alam ko kung anong klaseng tao siya, kung anong klaseng bata siya dahil ako ang nagpalaki sa kanya. Walang karapatan ang ibang organisasyon na I mold siya according sa kagustuhan nila. Wala silang Karapatan (My daughter is a victim. She is not a rebel. She is a victim of deceptive ideology. I know AJ, I know her since she was a child. I know what kind of person she is because I brought her up. No organization has the right to mold her according to their desire. They do not have any right),” she said. (PNA)
