How can anyone be subjected to a horrible crime and those who witnessed the horrible incident be so consumed with apathy and shameless inaction that their demeanor posed more danger to the victim is just unbelievable. Would they have reacted the same if they witnessed the same on their own sister, mother, daughter or even a distant acquaintance?
Tara Bosch Santelices had the misfortune on the eve of her 23rd birthday to be on the receiving end of a criminal hold up with a single gunshot smashing her right forehead pointblank. She is now fighting for her life in a coma in the ICU of Medical City Hospital in Pasig City, attached to a respirator machine. A victim of armed robbery shot in the left forehead shattering her skull and dreams of a promising life of creativity as a musical artist (lead guitarist of Saffron Speedway) and budding Indie film director.
To make matter worse her assailant was able to escape and the jeepney driver drove as if he was on his usual route taking his sweet time and even had the audacity to stop at the other passengers destination. The passengers alighted and asked the drivers to stop at their designated spot so callously numb and uncaring at the risk and unmindful of the life and death emergency of Tara just went about their ways .
Upon reaching a clinic that is not equipped to handle such emergency the jeepney driver drove off without even caring what happened to the victim.
The Cainta Police are even worse and so inept that it took them a day to interview Joee Mejias the witness companion of Tara who was with her all the while agonizing at how this is happening to her friend.
We can let Tara Bosch Santelices and other victims of crime suffer yet another numbing apathy and let her and her family suffer in pain alone or we can act now by calling the attention of our lawmakers to enact laws so that tragic event like these do not occur again. We can also call on the law enforcement agencies to step up their investigation and there is a petition that we can sign here.
If you want to contribute to a fund for Tara’s recovery, here are the details:
Anne Marie F. Santelices, Banco de Oro, SA 2140-062201. For direct cash donations, please proceed to the ICU Waiting Room of the Medical City (Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City). Please look for Joee Mejias or Lila Santelices.
Lastly, please let everyone you know about the plight of Tara Bosch Santelices, by emailing this or writing a blog about it or any other way to raise awareness on the issue of public safety in public transportation, she needs all the support she can get at this point and sometimes miracle do happen when good people wish and pray for her speedy recovery.
For inquiries, please contact Joee Mejias (09228154987) for calls and Jac Ledonio (09167243071) or Myka Francisco (09163695148) for text messages.
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