By BETHEENA KAE UNITE
Nanay Teresita travelled all the way from Pangasinan to Manila after learning that his son was killed by policemen in an encounter Saturday morning.
Yesterday, Teresita pleaded for police to let her see her son whose body was at St. Rich Funeral Homes.
Wailing and screaming at the duty desk police officer at the Manila Police District, Teresita said all she wanted was to transfer her son’s body to St. Peter Funeral where her relatives promised to pay for the expenses.
Carlos Cavares Janiva III, 38, was shot dead by policemen after a brief chase at the corner of G. Tuazon and Cebu Sts. in Sampaloc, Manila at 3:15 a.m.
Janiva was earlier accosted by policemen for carrying a firearm while walking with his girlfriend, but instead of yielding, he ran away.
A brother, who identified the body, called their mother who immediately rushed to Manila.
The problem, however, was that the funeral house could not release the body without documents from the police.
“Legitimate mother ako, pamilya kami e, aanhin ba namin kung hindi namin pamilya,” Nanay Teresita said. “Gusto ko lang naman makita siya, ganun ba kahirap ‘yun?” Teresita cried out.
Lea Botones, owner of the funeral house, said they have the body only for safekeeping. “Kailangan naming ng papeles mula sa pulis kasi under investigation pa ito. Baka kailangan pa ipa-autopsy,” she explained over the phone.
Botones denied the mother’s claim that they refused to let her see the body. “Hindi naman siya nag-request.
Sinabi lang nila sa amin na huwag galawin ang body at gusto nila ilipat sa ibang punerarya. Siyempre hindi namin puwede gawin ‘yun. Paano kung hanapin sa amin ng pulis ‘yung body?” Botones asked.
Policemen on duty said they need to validate the connection between the claimants and the body, the reason they’re still waiting for the arrival of the case investigator.
Teresita was adamant. “Nagpabalik balik na kami, pinapaikot lang nila kami,” Teresita said. “Kasi nagpapahalata sila na kailangan nila ng pera e, na kailangan nilang kumita sa bangkay ng anak ko. Where is justice here?” Teresita asked.
Janiva suffered nine bullet wounds following a shootout with PO1 Xavier Jan Martin Afuang and PO1 Reynaldo Gazmin of the MPD Station 4.
A caliber .38 pistol loaded with eight live ammunitions and a high-end Colt combat commander caliber .45 pistol were recovered from Janiva, police said.
Teresita did not deny that his son had been carrying a gun for a long time now. But she learned from her relatives that her son was about to sell his gun when the encounter happened.
Teresita said she immediately took the first trip going to Manila from Pangasinan when she learned what happened to her son. “Hindi ko pa nga alam na patay na siya ang sabi lang sa akin ginagamot pa,” Teresita said.
“Mabait siyang anak, mabait sa amin, pati sa mga kapatid niya,” Teresita described her son.
But Teresita admitted that his son, the first born, had been involved in illegal drug activities when he was still a teen. “Maliit pa siya kasi noong nabalo ako I have to work for us. Naiiwan ko sila, may katulong lang tapos ako naghahanap buhay. Nainvolve siya sa drugs diyan sa Kamuning,” Teresita narrated.
“Gumamit siya (ng bawal na droga) at ang alam ko, ang nabalitaan ko, may Muslim na nagkupkop sa kanya na binibigyan siya ng droga kapalit ng pagbenta niya,” she said.
Teresita said she even reported her son to the authorities before.
She said she just want to provide her son a nice burial and stare at him for the last time. “Susubukan kong humingi ng picture niya para makita ko man lang siya,” Teresita said still trying to continue the quest of claiming her son’s body.
