Malabon stray bullet victim still awaits justice

MANILA, Philippines — The family of 15-year-old Emilyn Villanueva is still crying for justice two years since a bullet felled her in Malabon City during the revelry to welcome the New Year.

In an interview with The STAR at their house, Marilyn Villanueva broke down as she recalled her family’s ordeal in dealing with the trauma of losing their cheerful, sweet daughter to a stray bullet that hit the girl’s head in 2017.

Emilyn went into a coma and died four days later due to severe brain injury.

She recalled having dreamt about Emilyn smiling – something she was known for – as if she were in a better place now.

“I hugged her and I said thank you for a chance to hug her again,” Marilyn said.

From her earnings at the fish market, she sets aside P300 a week throughout the year so she could offer weeklong masses for her daughter.

During the previous New Year, Marilyn said she tucked her children early to bed as they were traumatized by the death of her daughter. Emilyn was watching a fireworks display near city hall when the bullet hit her.

She and her husband Emil – Emilyn’s name was a contraction of her parents’ names – said they are still unconvinced that a notorious criminal in the area named Renato Sy Jr. was to be blamed for their daughter’s death.

According to then Malabon police chief Senior Supt. John Chua, Sy was known for a string of criminal activities in Camanava. Sy is also the suspect in the killing of Caloocan Police Officer 2 Rancel Cruz.

Police had accused Sy of firing a gun at barangay tanod Patricio Muñoz, and the bullet supposedly hit Emilyn instead.

The family maintained their daughter was a victim of stray bullet, contrary to what the police deemed as a shooting incident. At the time, then Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa warned that police chiefs would be relieved over stray bullet incidents.

“They just want someone to be blamed for her death,” Emil said.

According to the Malabon warrant and subpoena section, Sy remains at large despite a warrant of arrest for homicide issued by the Malabon Regional Trial Court Branch 289 on June 5, 2017.

While justice remains elusive for their daughter, Emil said he would have to do with memories of seeing Emilyn smiling when she was still alive.

A photo of Emilyn, a scholar, was hanging on the wall with a rosary on its side.

“In my mind, she is still alive. I don’t want to see her as dead,” Emil said.

Emilyn’s 11-year-old younger sister now wears the clothes formerly worn by her elder sister. As she accompanied this reporter out of the narrow alleys in their community, she recalled a dream seeing Emilyn beside Jesus Christ, asking her to come with him.

She said she continues to pray for Emilyn. “Para may hustisya (So justice will finally be served),” the girl said.