Parents of slain student fear ‘powerful’ suspects, vow to seek justice

SAN JOSE, Batangas — A mother’s grief is etched into every bullet hole in the guitar she can no longer hear her son play.

Wilma Usi holds on to the guitar of her 22-year-old son, Charles, who was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants on October 25 while returning home from a musical gig in Lipa City.

The instrument, once his trusted companion in pursuing his dreams, now bears the marks of the bullets that ended his life.

Charles was a working student and aspiring singer who dreamed of giving his family a better life. His mother said he had promised to lift them out of poverty.

But those dreams were cut short in a brutal shooting incident  on the  night of October 25 along the national highway of San Jose, Batangas.

“Yung talagang way ng pagkamatay ng aking anak ay hindi katanggap-tanggap. Kaya ko naman po tanggapin kung sakaling namatay ang anak ko, pero hindi po sa ganitong paraan kasi brutal po sa anak ko. Marami po siyang pangarap sa amin, sa kaniyang mga kapatid,” Wilma said.

Charles was a third-year Bachelor of Arts in Communication student at Westmead International School, with only a year left before completing his degree.

Wilma said her son was a private person. She recalled that he once came home with a woman whom he introduced as his girlfriend, but she did not ask many questions about their relationship.

Less than a year after meeting the woman, Wilma would learn that jealousy and an alleged love triangle were being investigated as possible motives for her son’s killing.

Authorities said the alleged motive was a love triangle, with the ex-boyfriend of Charles’ girlfriend suspected of orchestrating the attack out of jealousy.

Wilma, however, said her son never mentioned receiving threats or fearing for his life.

Batangas Police Provincial Office Public Information Office chief PTLCOL Philip Aguilar said that a high-profile personality allegedly ordered the killing, although authorities have yet to disclose further details.

For Charles’ parents, the prospect of powerful figures being involved makes their fight for justice even more daunting.

Wilma appealed to higher authorities to help them ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

“Gusto ko mabigyan ng hustisya yung aking anak, kaya gusto ko po talagang humingi ng tulong sa nakakataas. Mabigyan po ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ng aking anak kasi kami po ay mga simpleng tao lang na may simpleng pangarap sa aking anak na hindi na po mangyayari kasi kinuha na po nila ang buhay ng aking anak,” she said.

Charles’ father, Michael Usi, shared the same plea, calling for the immediate arrest of the gunman and other suspects.

“Sana mahuli na po kaagad yung gunman, yung pumatay sa aking anak,” he said.

The couple admitted they fear for their safety, particularly because of the alleged influence of those behind the killing.

“Ako po ay natatakot sa aming seguridad kasi sa ganoon tao, alam po natin na kapag ikaw ay maimpluwensiya ay kaya naman talagang paikutin ang lahat,” Wilma said.

“Wala kami kakayahan, pero sabi ko may Diyos naman po na pinagtitiwalaan ako,” she  added.

Six suspects, including the alleged mastermind, have been charged with murder before the Batangas Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

The couple is hoping prosecutors will act swiftly and that arrest warrants will soon be issued.

They know they are up against a difficult fight. But Wilma and Michael say they will not be silenced by fear.