Decena to perpetrators: I know who you are
MANILA -- Businesswoman Cristina Castillo, also known as Cristina Decena, on Friday recounted how she managed to escape an ambush in Banawe, Quezon City last Wednesday.
Castillo, her son Danilo and house helper Helen Felesco just came from a restaurant when her black Hyundai Starex was suddenly fired upon by two motorcycle-riding gunmen at the corner of Simon St. and Banawe.
Felesco was wounded in the incident.
"Actually hindi ko alam na binabaril kami kasi yung baril walang ingay eh, may silencer... Nakita ko na lang parang yung salamin ng sasakyan namin unti-unting nadudurog," Castillo said in an interview with radio dzMM.
"Nung nakita ko...sinabi ko sa kasambahay ko 'Helen, dapa, may bumabaril sa atin.' 'Anak, presence of mind, may bumabaril sa atin."
"Tapos nagdadasal ako. Sabi ko 'Lord, tulungan mo ko. Yakapin mo po ako ng mga kamay mo,'" she recalled.
Castillo said her 22-year-old son then managed to make a U-turn and as a result, hit the suspects' motorcycle.
But this did not stop the suspects from firing at them. The gunmen also later commandeered another vehicle.
Fearing that the suspects would not stop following them until they were all killed, Castillo decided to go down the vehicle, and let her son and house helper escape.
"Sabi ko sa anak ko 'Anak, this is it. Kailangan ihanap mo ko ng isang lugar na pwede kong takbuhan. Iligtas mo yung sarili mo. Dalhin mo si Helen sa ospital. Anak, ako lang ang kailangan ng mga yan. Ako lang ang kailangang mapatay niyan,'" she said.
She then rushed to the Wilcon Depot along Quezon Avenue where the staff immediately attended to her wounds. She noted that the employees in the depot know her since she was a regular customer.
Perpetrators told: I'm not afraid of you
In the interview, Castillo revealed that "land-grabbers" were the ones who perpetrated the ambush. She did not name names, however.
"Pag meron silang nagustuhang property, ililipat nila sa pangalan nila. Pag nalipat na nila, papatayin ka nila, papatahimikin ka nila para hindi sila mausig ng batas."
"Iniisip siguro nila pag napatay ako, wala na, kanila na yung property na ipinaglalaban ko. At gagawin na naman nila yun sa ibang tao," she said.
Castillo said she is not afraid of anyone and that she will fight until the people behind the crime are put behind bars.
"Hindi ako natatakot... Alam ko kung sinong nasa likod nito."
"Mas lalo akong tumapang... Hindi ko sila titigilan hangga't hindi ko sila nakikitang nakakulong," Castillo said.
Manila police have already arrested the two gunmen, who were positively identified by witnesses.
The suspects were identified as PO1 Henry Quiñonez, a former member of the Special Action Force, and Edgardo Binalla. Investigations are still ongoing.
