Ralph Ryan Rafael, governor of the Local Student Government (LSG) of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) main campus, one of the biggest state universities in Southwestern Mindanao, has likened Angelie’s crusade to a “battle between David and Goliath.”
They described Angelie (not her real name) as “David” and the alleged perpetrator — because of his power, money, and influence in the community, as “Goliath.”
In her two-page affidavit, Angelie identified her perpetrator as Datu Andy Montawal, councilor and member of the powerful Montawal clan in Datu Montawal town, Maguindanao.
“The suspect is like a strong wall. For it to fall down, we need a ‘bulldozer’,” said Rafael.
For Rafale, the “bulldozer” is Angelie and the thousands of students and teachers of the USM Main Campus backing her.
“But for the ‘bulldozer’ to move, it needs ‘fuel,’” says Ruby Padilla-Sison, chair of Gabriela North Cotabato and one of the conveners of the Justice for Angelie Movement.
“The funds that we would generate can ‘fuel’ the bulldozer. The campaign must continue despite threats and harassments against Angelie’s life and those people backing her,” said Sison.
Sison said Angelie needs fund to pay her lawyers once the legal battle starts.
Angelie submitted to the Prosecution Office in Kabacan town last Friday some additional documents relative to the complaints she filed against Montawal and three other accomplices.
The Prosecution has given the suspects 10 days to file their counter-affidavits before they decide if there’s a probable cause to file the complaints in court for the issuance of warrants for their arrest.
Other than the legal battle that Angelie has to go through, she also has to undergo psycho-social treatment from a trained psychiatrist.
“Angelie is still not ‘whole’, so she has to regain emotional strength. This is a process that might take months or years before healing can take place,” said Sison. (MindaNews)
