Alicia Lucena answers questions from the media during a press conference at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, August 14, 2019. Screengrab from Act Teachers Party-List video stream of the press briefing
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Alicia Lucena, the senior high student who was reported missing by her mother, on Wednesday revealed that her parents had brought her to the police to block her from continuing her membership to progressive group Anakbayan.
And this, Lucena said, had pushed her to leave their home.
鈥溾�榊ung mga panahon pong missing ako, quote-unquote, I preferred not to talk to them (parents) kasi super hostile po noong approach nila sa akin tapos nung nasa bahay po ako dinadala po ako sa Camp Aguinaldo, Camp Bagong Diwa dahil sa pagiging aktibista ko po,鈥� the 18-year-old explained during the weekly press conference of the House Makabayan bloc.聽
Lucena said she left home on July 10 and stayed with a friend, contrary to her mother Relissa鈥檚 claim that she went missing and was kidnapped by Anakbayan. Relissa earlier appeared at a Senate hearing led by Senator Ronald dela Rosa on the alleged recruitment of students by leftist groups to the underground movement.
搁贰础顿:听Daughter refutes mom: I am not missing, brainwashed; I left home willingly
Lucena said she was brought to police camps and was forced to talk to supposed New People鈥檚 Army (NPA) 鈥渟urrenderers.鈥�
鈥淢ostly pag dinadala po ako 鈥榙i po ako aware na dadalhin ako鈥� kinakausap nila ako鈥� tapos ina-assume nilang may mga ginagawa akong illegal, 鈥榶ung mga rebel surrenderees (sic) po,鈥� she recounted.
Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, and Ferdinand Gaite; Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago; ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro; and Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas were also present during the press briefing.
Zarate said that while this could be a 鈥渢raumatic鈥� experience for Lucena, they are still urging her to reconcile with her family.聽
鈥淥f course pinapayuhan namin sila na kailangan talagang i-win over mo 鈥榶ung pamilya mo, magpapaliwanag鈥︹�� he said.
鈥淎t bilang magulang hindi pwedeng i-impose din natin 鈥榶ung ating gusto sa ating mga anak especially sila ay of legal age. We can continue giving our guidance and advice to them,鈥� Zarate added.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said they had lodged kidnapping and other complaints against Anakbayan leaders over Lucena鈥檚 case. Elago said the complaints are just aimed at 鈥渉arassing鈥� and 鈥渟ilencing鈥� progressive youth groups.聽
鈥淣akabatay po 鈥榶an sa fake news at false allegations kaya po tayo ay tiwala na ito ay madali rin mababasura. 鈥榊an ay isang harassment case lamang para patahimikin 鈥榶ung mga national organizations na naninindigan laban sa mga pamamaslang kaugnay ng drug war at iba pang patakaran ng Duterte administration,鈥� the progressive lawmaker said.
搁贰础顿:听Elago: Complaint vs Anakbayan meant to 鈥榟arass, silence鈥� progressives
Dela Rosa, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, denied this Wednesday.
鈥淲e are not here because the groups who have allegedly recruited their children are critics of the administration鈥� We are here voluntarily because their children are being coddled by these organizations and they (parents) have grown desperate because their pleas have not been heeded by the said groups,鈥� he said.
搁贰础顿:听No witch hunt in Senate probe on students recruited by activists 鈥� Dela Rosa
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