Kieth’s mother dreams of terrorism-free PH

By Marita Moaje / Philippine News Agency

SHATTERED DREAM. Vilma Absalon with her son Kieth in this undated photo. The New People’s Army cut short his promising athletic career when the rebels’ anti-personnel mine planted on a roadside in Masbate City exploded while he was cycling with his relatives and friends on June 6. (Photo courtesy of Vilma Absalon Facebook)

MANILA – It has been nearly 40 days since her son was killed by an anti-personnel mine explosion and Vilma Absalon hopes there will be no more victims of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army’s (CPP-NPA) terroristic acts.

Kieth, 21, and his 40-year-old cousin, Nolven, died on June 6 while out cycling in Masbate City.

Absalon’s son was a football player of the Far Eastern University and once played for the Philippine youth team.

“Buo tayong magka-isa na ito pong kanilang layunin na wala namang katuturan na sana po ay wakasan na natin. Magka-isa po tayo. Hinihiling ko po sa inyo na sana hindi po tayo huminto hangga’t hindi po sila ma-ubos lahat (Together let us put an end to their false ideologies and let us all unite and not stop until they all perish),” Absalon said during a virtual press conference by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Monday.

She said their family still cannot get over the death of Kieth.

Autopsy reports also showed the cousins were shot at close range.

The NPA later admitted responsibility and apologized but the family would rather that the rebels face the justice system.

She said Filipinos deserve lasting peace.

“Labanan natin ang walang layunin na organisasyon. Maalis na iyan po para iyong mga kabataan natin ngayon ay patuloy din silang maglalaro o patuloy ang kanilang future na magiging maganda, na makakatulong sa ating bansa sa pag-unlad (Let us fight this aimless organization. Let us remove them for our youth so they can play freely and have a bright future ahead of them and help the country),” she said.

Absalon, who also thanked the Duterte administration, NTF-ELCAC, and the media for joining them in their fight for justice, remained grateful that his son’s death will help fight terrorism.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako kahit masakit sa aking damdamin na ang aking anak ay nawala pero binigyan ninyo po sila ng halaga. Pinalitan ninyo po ang sakit sa aming pamilya, pinalitan ninyo po, binawi ninyo po na sa pagkakaisa natin lalo na po kayo na nandiyan sa media, na nabuksan ang ating bansa upang ipagpatuloy natin ang kapayapaan. Alisin na natin ang mga hidwaan. Sana po iyong mga nasa likod niyan ng mga NPA o anumang organisasyon sana po hindi na po nila gawin iyon muli na marami pang bibiktimahin. Ang kailangan lang po natin ay kapayapaan," she said. "Sama-sama po tayo at magkaisa."

She added Kieth’s teammates often visit them to show support.

She hopes there will be no hindrance for them to achieve their dreams.

“Sana po iyong mga nasa likod niyan na mga NPA o anumang organisasyon, sana po hindi na po nila gawin iyon muli na marami pang bibiktimahin. Ang kailangan lang po natin ay kapayapaan. Sama-sama po tayo at magka-isa (I wish those who are behind this, the NPA or other organizations, won’t repeat what they have done and victimize other people. What we need is peace. Let us unite),” she said.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)