During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mary (not her real name) temporarily lost her livelihood selling perfume and lotion. Later, she even lost her freedom when she was charged with robbery. As a single parent raising two children and living in a rented apartment, Mary decided to give up the apartment and move in with a sibling to reduce expenses. In need of fare to reach her sibling's home, she pawned her watch for P400.00 to the caretaker of the house she was renting.
When Mary was ready to retrieve the watch she had pawned, the caretaker refused to return it. Allegedly, the caretaker's son, a police officer, became interested in the watch. It was a Rado watch, gifted to Mary by a former boyfriend.
Mary was determined to retrieve her watch and brought the money she owed. In her frustration, she threatened to report the caretaker to the Barangay authorities. A few days later, the caretaker and her son asked Mary to come to their house. They led her inside a dimly-lit house, to a chair with a knife on it and asked her to take the knife to the kitchen. Shortly after, Mary was charged with robbery. Allegedly, the caretaker's police officer son fabricated a story, claiming that Mary had entered their house with a knife, intending to harm the caretaker. She was also accused of stealing PHP 8,000 from the caretaker.
Mary's conscience was clear, but she feared what the police might do to her. Reluctantly, she complied with the warrant of arrest, trusting that due process would eventually prove her innocence. She entered the Cagayan de Oro Jail in October 2022.
Mary languished in jail for two months, tormented by the thought of leaving her two young children behind. She was grateful that her siblings were supportive and took care of her children during her ordeal. Despite the difficult circumstances, Mary tried to stay positive, believing that something good would come out of the experience. In jail, she devoted much of her time in attending Bible studies and listening to the preaching of religious service providers. Through these sessions, she learned to approach life with a commitment to living righteously.
During her trial, the caretaker eventually confessed the truth, and both the caretaker and her son retracted their false statements. With no other evidence or testimonies to support the charges, the case against Mary fell apart. Thanks to the assistance of the Diocesan Prison Ministry of Cagayan De Oro, Mary was recommended for the PRESO Inc. Community Bail Program. Upon hearing her story, PRESO Inc. provided the funds for her bail, leading to her release. The court dismissed the case just two months later in December 2022.
Her experience led her to believe that not all who are accused and sent to jail are guilty; many are falsely accused. She could not fathom why some people are capable of causing such great harm to others. Meanwhile, the caretaker and her son still have the watch, while Mary suffered in jail, losing both her morale and valuable time to make a living.
Now free, Mary has resumed selling lotions and perfumes to support her children and send them to school. She chose to move to a new place, far from the caretaker and her police officer- son, seeking peace and distance from her past ordeal. While she considered pursuing legal action against them to seek justice, she decided to let it go, trusting that divine justice would prevail. For her, nothing compares to the peace of mind that comes from walking the streets without fear.
Mary is still struggling, but is now focused on her children's education and dreams of building a home for them—a safe haven that can provide shelter and security from the challenges of the world.
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