Young Blood: Terrorized by the State!

February 15, 2005 was a typical day for Mang Guido and his family as he left early that day to plow his field. Little did they know that such peaceful day was the start of an unforgettable ordeal as Mang Guido became one of the thousands of victims of military cruelty.

While plowing his field that fateful afternoon, Mang Guido was forcibly taken by government soldiers despite repeated protestations and denials that he was a member of the New People's Army. Even with the adamant insistence of his neighbors that he was a resident of the barangay, the soldiers took Mang Guido for a helicopter ride to the military camp.

For two weeks, his family was clueless regarding his whereabouts until they found him emaciated, tired and beaten in military detention. Two weeks of torture and abuse by soldiers made Mang Guido's body ache all over especially when he was touched.

This incident took its toll not only on Mang Guido but on his children as well Camille, 8 years old, and Rhifa , 11 years old, recalled that during the nights preceding their father's arrest , they were already in great fear. Several nights before, The military indiscriminately fired their guns and threw grenades aimlessly and eventually blow up the entire community. The days that followed the arrest of their father were even more tragic and traumatic. Aside from the fact that the children lived through the uncertainty of their father's fate, their schooling were also affected. Mang Guido was the family's sole breadwinner and their mother was pre-occupied with the documents and processes for their father's release. For about a month, the family only survived only thru the kindness of their neighbors and lived like nomads, transferring from one house to another.

Today, with Mang Guido still in jail and the processing of his papers seemingly an endless task, , his family found refuge and support in the Children's Rehabilitation Center (CRC). CRC provided therapy to the children and assisted in facilitating progress in the case of Mang Guido. Therapy activities and play group activities have made Camille, Rhifa and the rest of Mang Guido's children laugh, play, and live again. However, no amount of effort and assistance can ever erase the memory and psychosocial damaged the military caused them. Only the hope that justice for their father and peace in their community will help facilitate genuine healing of their abused psyche.