From an Innocent Point of View

By Angelle Baligod

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Before I progressed with this case, I glanced at his parents from the back of the court, weeping as they were both clinging onto each other. His father was holding onto a small yellow cloth while his mother was hugging a small notebook on her chest.

I diverted my attention back to our assigned judge, and I immediately felt more nervous as he gestured for everyone to take their seats, “Attorney, you may begin.”

I felt the weight of everyone’s stare as I stood up. The small courtroom felt even smaller as I can almost hear the heavy breath of the two different mothers inside the room.

“Mr. Cavite, where were you when the incident happened?” I began.

“I was on duty with my partner, Mr. Gabriel. We were assigned to patrol over the small city of Dale.”

“From what you can remember, how busy was that city, Mr. Cavite?”

“Not busy at all. We literally only encountered three to five residents during that night.”

“Were there any complications?”

“No, everything was in order.”

“Do you consider yourself fat, Mr. Cavite?”

He looked taken back with my question and looked at the judge with doubt. The judge stared at me in confusion but didn’t say a word.

“I mean, I am well aware that I am quite overweight for my job,” he answered with a stern look on his face as if he’s warning me to not say something else.

“Do you smoke, Sir? If yes, do you smoke with Mr. Gabriel?”

“From time to time, yes. And yes again, we do smoke together at times,” he furrowed his eyebrows.

“Have you ever tried drinking while on duty?”

He looked away and murmured a “Yes,” ashamed of his own actions.

I nodded at his response, keeping in mind of each and every word he said.

“One last question, Sir. Do you think beer looks like apple juice?”

“Objection! How is this relevant?” the defendants’ lawyer immediately stood up, obviously making fun of my questions.

“Your Honor, these questions may lead me to the suspect of this crime. These are completely valid questions I need to be answered,” I explained.

The judge glanced at the side where the defendants are seated and looked back at me, “You may proceed, Attorney.”

I diverted my attention back to Mr. Cavite and raised my eyebrows, silently telling him to answer my question.

“I guess, Attorney. They do not taste the same, that’s for sure, but they have the same color,” he hesitated, completely not seeing where I’m going with this.

Satisfied with his answers, I asked in a quite demanding manner, “I am asking for Your Honor’s permission to present something to the court.”

He gave me a timid nod and gestured with his hands.

With that, I began reading.

August 17, 2022

Dear Diary,

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko maikukwento ang mga pangyayaring nasaksihan ko kanina. Sa may labas ng aming tahanan, may napansin akong matatandang lalaking nagtatawanan sa kabilang kalsada. Nakasuot sila ng color blue na unipormeng mukhang maaalis na ang butones sa sobrang higpit nito sa kanilang mga tiyan. Kahit papaano, mukha naman itong plantsado at halatang iniingatan. Pero nakatatakot pa rin silang tignan. Habang nakatambay sila sa madilim na eskinita, meron silang puting stick na idinidikit sa kanilang labi tapos dahan-dahang aalisin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngumunguso sila pagkatapos nilang gawin ‘yun. Paulit-ulit pa nga nila ‘tong ginagawa. Siguro candy ‘yon. Baka lollipop? Siguro may pang-matandang klase ng lollipop. Itatanong ko nga iyan sa papa ko kasi kahit kailan, hindi ko siya nakitang kumain n’on. Mukhang may softdrinks din silang iniinom. Siguro sprite ‘yun o kaya naman ay coke. Pero hindi e, kakulay ito ng apple juice. Baka nga apple juice ‘yon. Hindi naman sila gaanong nakatatakot noong nagkwekwentuhan lamang sila hanggang sa may dumaang babae sa harap nila. Nakita kong sumigaw ang isa at sabay silang nagtawanan. Biglang napalingon ‘yong babae pero no’ng nakita sila, parang nanigas ang kaniyang katawan. Ang buong akala ko nga ay tatakbo siya dahil sa nakatatakot talaga sila ngunit bakit hindi siya umaalis doon? Ang malala pa ay nilapitan siya ng isa pang lalaki. Dalawa kasi sila do’n ‘e. Hinawakan siya sa braso tapos parang hinila papalapit sa kanila. May binulong din ata siya sa tainga ng babae na nagtulak sa kaniya upang pilit na kumawala sa hawak ng lalaki.

Mas napaigi ang pag-oobserba ko sa kanila nang may biglang lumapit na lalaki sa kanila. Natatandaan ko pa nga ang kaniyang eksaktong mga salita, “Mamang Pulis, ano pong problema?” Pulis pala ang mga iyon. Sila pala ang sinasabi ni Mama na magpo-protekta sa akin kapag ako’y napahamak at ang manghuhuli raw sa akin kapag ako’y nagiging makulit at pasaway kay Mama. Noong nakalapit na ang lalaki sa kanila, nag-usap muna sila saglit. Siguro’y ilang minuto muna ang nakalipas bago niya sinubukang lapitan ‘yong babae ngunit bigla siyang sinuntok n’ong isang pulis. Napakapit din ako kay Mama noong nakita ko iyon. Bigla akong binalot ng takot at pinangunahan ng kaba. Akala ko ba’y responsibilidad nilang protektahan ang mga tao? Bakit sila nananakit?

Noong gumanti na ang lalaki, napabitaw na ‘yong isang pulis sa babae at naging dahilan upang makatakbo ito papalayo. Pinagtulungan na nila siya. Awang-awa nga ako ‘e. Habang sinusuntok-suntok siya, hindi na siya makaganti pa. Kahit na nakahiga na lamang siya doon, sinusubukan pa rin yata niyang lumaban kahit na para bang hinang-hina na ang kaniyang katawan. Hindi nagtagal ay tumigil siya bigla sa kaniyang pagpupumiglas. Napahinto na rin ang mga pulis nang oras na iyon. Nagtinginan silang dalawa at tila ba’y may ibinulong ang isang pulis sa kaniyang kasamahan. Pinaandar na ng isa sa kanila ang kotse sa kanilang harapan habang ang isa’y tila ba’y may hinahanap sa paligid. Nanigas ang aking buong katawan noong kami’y magkatinginan. Hindi niya ako nilapitan ngunit pinagmasdan niya ako nang kay tagal na para bang may kinakabisado siya tungkol sa akin. Natigil lamang iyon nang bumusina ang kaniyang kasamang pulis at sila’y umalis nang hindi man lang tinutulungan ang lalaking nakahiga sa kalsada.

“Objection! How is this relevant to the death of Henry De Mesa?” the defendants’ attorney immediately stood up as I finished reading his diary.

“Your Honor, this record clearly shows a connection between the murder of Henry De Mesa and the case of Yoshua Camacho. Both crimes happened in a span of two days. The child’s narrative in his diary matches the footage taken by the CCTV during the death of Mr. Camacho,” I explained.

“May I ask where you got this journal, Attorney?”

“Your Honor, this is a copy of Henry De Mesa’s personal journal. For everyone’s knowledge, Henry is a special child with special needs. According to his pediatrician, he was diagnosed with autism. He belonged to the 40 percent autistic children who cannot speak at all. This has caused many complications for him to live his life like a normal child. Despite this, he was also an incredibly gifted child. Many studies by experts have proved that patients diagnosed with ASD, or Autism Disorder Spectrum, may have above-average IQ just like Henry. During his thirteen years of existence, his parents admitted that he showed signs of being smarter than children his age. His journals have become his voice, Your Honor.”

The judge glanced at the side where the defendants are seated and looked back at me, “Proceed with the questioning.”

I took a deep breath and slowly paved my way to the policeman on the stand, “Are you familiar with this scenario, Sir?”

He kept on fidgeting with his fingers as he looked down on the desk in front of him. Sweat was dripping down his forehead as he slowly looked me in the eye. “No,” he breathily replied.

“Sir, remember, you are under oath.”

“I am telling the truth, Attorney! I have no idea of what you are talking about.”

“Sir, are you saying that you do not recall roaming the small city of Dale with your partner Mr. Gabriel, where the Camacho Family lives in, the night Yoshua Camacho was shot dead and the night before Henry De Mesa was murdered by a gunshot?”

“Yes.”

“But didn’t you just say you were on duty with Mr. Gabriel during that night?”

“Yes, but we could’ve been in another barangay,” he stated in an annoyed tone.

“And what barangay is that Sir?”

“I don’t know!”

Anyone from this room can tell that he is getting frustrated by now.

“Why do you not know? Shouldn’t you be aware of what barangay you were keeping an eye on to effectively do your job?” I raised my eyebrows.

“Barangay Kingston.”

“That’s the street Henry De Mesa lives in, Sir,” I firmly stated. “Are you sure you do not recall anything from the narrative?”

He took me by surprise when he suddenly stood up, slamming both his hands on the desk while glowering at me, “Oh, for fuck’s sake! I only meant to scare him! I didn’t want the child to be dead! I didn’t know that the gun was fucking loaded!”

Silence filled the room.

The only thing I heard was the sound of my fast heartbeat.

Mr. Cavite realized what he had done and tried to take back his words, “I didn’t mean it that way! Please, let me explain. I did not kill the child! That came out wrong, I swear to god!”

It was too late. The cops were already escorting him out of the room, together with Mr. Gabriel. I can hear the loud cries of Henry’s family members as well as the pleas of Mr. Cavite’s wife and daughters.

This is it. Case closed. Our suspect has confessed.

I have won my first ever case as an attorney.

But I lost something I have held dear for my entire life. I can still remember how my father used to say how trustworthy and nice policemen are.

It was already 5:00 PM.

I observed everything around me and noticed that I was the only student left in the school campus. All the other students have been fetched by their parents and their school service. I noticed that there were three policemen leaning on a police car parked in front of the school building. They were talking with the security guard who I assume was assigned to guard the school grounds that day. Not long after, one of the policemen noticed me and pointed a finger to my direction, probably telling the others about me.

“’Nak, wala pa rin sundo mo?” I was startled when the security guard softly approached and asked me.

I looked up and saw the look of worry in his eyes. I shook my head and mouthed a, “No po.”

“Okay, hintay ka na lang muna diyan. Kapag umabot ng 6:00 PM at wala pa magulang mo, ipapahatid na kita sa mga pulis. Okay lang ba sa iyo ‘yon?”

I didn’t really understand what he was saying. My mind was occupied by the fact that my parents failed to pick me up from school. I wonder what excuse they have for me now.

I just nodded my head lightly.

“Akin na ID mo para alam namin kung anong address mo at matawagan namin magulang mo.”

When he got the ID from me, he went back to where the policemen were and gave it to them. Funnily enough, when they saw my ID, they laughed out loud. One of them even punched the other policeman’s shoulder lightly. I don’t know why but it sent chills to my entire body. Once their laughter died down, a policeman pulled out their phone and called someone.

I decided to divert my attention to something else. I recount the times this has happened to me. My mom is always busy with her work as a teacher while my father is busy protecting the country from any harm. They almost never have time for me.

My thoughts were interrupted when I saw a pair of black shoes in front of me. “Iha, tara na. Ihahatid ka na namin sa inyong bahay. Hinihintay ka na ng mga magulang mo.”

Noticing that my father wears the same uniform as him, I nodded and picked up my bag. If my father wears this uniform to protect our country from harm, why would these men, who wear the same uniform, do the opposite?

Upon arriving at our house, I noticed that my father was already waiting by the front door.

“Pare naman! Nakalimutan mo bang may anak ka na?” One of the policemen joked.

“Loko! Nakatulog kasi ako!” He shook his head, laughing. “Anak, come here. I am so sorry for not being able to pick you up. Daddy was tired from his job and I accidentally overslept.”

I looked at him and saw the dark circles under his eyes. Mommy said that if I can see those, I should not bother Daddy. I smiled timidly and nodded. This caused him to smile widely and hug me. He looked back to his friends and said, “Oh siya, sige na. Salamat at hinatid niyo nang matiwasay anak ko. May utang ako sa inyong red horse!”

“Buti nga nalaman naming anak mo ‘yan, kung hindi baka iba pa nagawa namin,” one man winked to my father.

“Loko ka talaga! Umalis na nga kayo! Magkikita naman tayo bukas, paalam na.” My father took my bag from me and led me to the door.

I guess Daddy’s right... Policemen are nice...

Letting out a deep breath, I walked towards them and softly asked Mr. Cavite’s wife, “Are you okay?” She nodded and pulled me in for a hug. And just like that, the tears that I have been holding in flowed like stream.

I did not expect this to turn out this way.

While the courtroom was in chaos all I could think about was the child. An innocent child’s life was taken by the man I called my father. The man I feel loved and protected by for my entire 28 years of existence.

I closed my eyes and tried to clear my train of thoughts.

Everything’s becoming too much for me to handle. My visions became blurry as my mind is still clouded by unexplainable, painful thoughts.

The day I won over my dream job was the day I lost my father.

But if that’s what it takes to uphold justice, then so be it.

All these times, I was taught that policemen are always on our side to protect us. And it was true.

But what they failed to mention was policemen will only protect those they favor. Despite taking an oath to protect this country and its people, they are still human beings with natural selfish instincts. It is up to them whether they will let their power corrupt their morals. Of course, not all policemen, but isn’t one case alarming enough?

I thought about what my professor told us, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

But in comes law, human rights, and justice – things that no one, not even a power abusive ruler, can take.