Dear friends,
Today, May 15, 2012, we are observing the 18th month of the killing of my husband, Leonard Co. We are all still crying out for justice for Leonard’s untimely death and senseless killing, along with two of his companions, Julius Borromeo and Sofronio Cortez,on November 15, 2010 in Kananga, Leyte.
The panel of prosecutors formed by the DOJ had already finished the preliminary hearings in July 2011. It is now May 2012 and they have yet to come up with a resolution.
I am thus appealing to all of you, to all those who have loved, known and honored Leonard for his contributions in the field of science, botany and taxonomy, and to all those who believe that justice must be served: Please help us urge the DOJ to release the resolution at the soonest time possible.
More than a year after Leonard was killed, celebrations of his life, as well as various activities that continue what he had started were organized one after another. I and my daughter, Linnaea Marie, are very grateful for all the outpourings of love and respect you have given Leonard. Please give us the same strength as we call on the DOJ not to allow impunity to reign in the killing of Leonard and his companions.
We are learning the hard lesson that the clamor for justice is not easy to achieve, day by day. We continue to believe, however, that the DOJ resolution may pave the way in the arduous search for truth and justice and most importantly, in making the perpetrators accountable. We cannot bear to just wait while we know that after Leonard was killed, many more became victims of extrajudicial killings.
Please write the Department of Justice, and address your letters to Prosecutor General Claro A. Arellano and Secretary Leila M. De Lima. Let us flood their offices with snail mails, e-mails, phone calls and even SMS to remind them that we await the release of the resolution, and that we keep vigil on Leonard’s case.
On May 7, our daughter Linnaea Marie or Linmei, celebrated her 10th birthday. For a number of times, she was asked what was her birthday wish. Without hesitation, she said, “sana mabigyan na ng hustisya ang pagpatay ng mga sundalo sa tatay ko.”
Please help us fulfill this wish, however hard it may take.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely yours,
GLENDA F. CO
Wife of Leonard Co
ADDRESSES TO SEND LETTERS TO:
Department of Justice, Padre Faura Street, Malate, Manila, Republic of the Philippines, 1000Telephone: (02) 523-8481, (02) 523_6826Email: [email protected]: www.doj.gov.ph
LEILA M. DE LIMA, Secretary, DOJ Telefax: 523-9548Direct Line: 521-1908Trunkline: 523-8481 loc. 211, 214Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
FRANCISCO F. BARAAN III, Undersecretary and Chair, DOJ special task force on extrajudicial killings., Direct Line No.: 521-8348, Telefax No.:526-2618, Trunkline No.: 523-8481 loc. 217/338, Email Address: [email protected]
CLARO A. ARELLANO, Prosecutor General, Telefax No. 525-0952, Direct Line No.: 525-0952, Trunkline No.: 523-8481 loc. 219, 281, Email Address: [email protected]
—
Hustisya National Office
2/F #1 Maaralin cor. Matatag Sts.
Central District, Diliman
Quezon City 1100 Philippines
Telephone: (02) 434-2837
Telefax: (02) 435-4146
Mobile: 0949-1772928, 0917-4881510
E-mail: [email protected]
