Kin of ‘mistaken identity’ victims cry for justice

For more than a month now, life has not been easy for the families of two "mistaken identity" victims killed in Quezon City last May 17.

They lost their loved ones and may have to live with the thought that the victims’ death will be included in the long list of unsolved and unresolved crimes, since the suspected killers are policemen.

Fernando Lozada, 48, and Marian Uson, 17, were gunned down by operatives of the Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) in what the cops called a "legitimate operation" along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City.

Fernando’s elder daughter and Uson’s friend, Clarissa Frances, 17, survived with bruises and contusions all over the body.

"Our greatest fear is for the case to drag on, or worse, for justice not to be served for my husband Fernando and Marian, "said Clavel Lozada yesterday.

The Lozada and Uson families offered a Mass at the EDSA Shrine in Pasig City yesterday to "pray for justice and peace" for the two victims.

"Let us pray that Fernando and Marian be the last victims of senseless death. May they be the last ones to die because of mistaken identity. May other families not experience what we are going through right now," she noted during the Mass.

Fernando was driving a blue Mitsubishi Lancer on Araneta Avenue on the night of May 17 when they were flagged down by policemen in civilian clothes. Also on board were Marian and Clarissa.

Fernando, a chief steward of the New World Hotel, refused to stop, thinking that the policemen were kidnappers.

The lawmen fired and pursued the car until it rammed a concrete wall on Maria Clara street in Barangay Sto. Domingo. They also took Clarissa’s cellular phone to prevent her from calling for help. – Sheila Crisostomo