CEBU CITY, Philippines – April 11, 2019 was supposed to be a day of celebration in the Caritero’s family home in Barangay Kalawisan, Lapu-Lapu City.
Ana (not her real name), the youngest in the family who is only two years old, was declared cancer free by doctors.
She just had her third bone marrow test on that day after two years of consistent monthly check ups, medications and frequent visits to hospitals.
Ana was born in 2017 with Hirschsprung’s disease, a congenital disorder of the colon which causes chronic constipation. She was operated on when she was barely a year old. Ana celebrated her first birthday in the hospital.
Ana also has Down syndrome.
“It has been very taxing for the family. We were constantly worried about her,” said Johvanie Caritero, Ana’s uncle, her mother’s younger brother.
When the doctor returned with the test declaring that Ana is free from cancer, Johvanie said they celebrated in silence with her older sister, Apple Jean, clasping her hands on her chest in thanksgiving for the good news.
Then tears flowed from her eyes; those were tears of relief and sorrow.
She sobbed, uncontrollably.
There were tears of sorrow because the night before her daughter’ s appointment with the doctor, her partner, Manuel Baclohan, was shot dead during a drug bust in their home in Zone Litob, Barangay Kalawisan, Lapu-Lapu City.
Apple Jean has two children with Baclohan. Ana is their youngest daughter.
Police said Baclohan, 47, is a high-value target (HVT), who is sixth in the drug list of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Station 3 and second in Mandaue City Police’s list.
Baclohan was said to be transacting with police elements, who posed as buyers past 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.
The transaction happened within the vicinity of the house where Baclohan lived. The house is owned by the family of his partner.
Police report said the suspect pushed the cop posing as a buyer, and fled towards the house to take out his gun from his room.
In panic, police said Baclohan shot the cop who chased him. This prompted the police to shoot him back. The cop was unharmed.
But witnesses said no such transaction occured.
Four of Baclohan’s family members, including his nine-year-old daughter, were inside the house when men wearing bullet proof vests and with their faces fully covered with masks barged inside the house and told them to get out.
Five shots were then heard.
Baclohan was originally from Mandaue City but moved residence in Barangay Calawisan with Apple Jean and their two daughters.
Recovered from Baclohan were four small sachets containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.
Despite what happened, the family remains optimistic.
“Bisan pa man sa nahitabo, mapasalamaton gihapon mi kay declared na nga cancer free ang bata. Kana na lang among tan-awon nga grasya,” said Caritero.
(Despite what happened, we are still thankful because Ana is now cancer free. We will hold on to that as something to be grateful about.) / with Paul Lauro