My loving brother, Roberto Cruz Jr, 38 year old and
father of five kids, bravely fought for his life for more than four hours and slowly bled out to death last June 9, 2014 at 5:20 am at the Malolos Provincial Hospital (Bulacan
Medical Center).
(a heartfelt special video tribute made by "bunso" our youngest brother to celebrate the life of his kuya.. It took him several days to finish this video tribute.. Your kuya loves you so much bunso..)
*kuya - term of endearment for older brother in the Philippines
He met his tragic death as a direct consequence of multiple
and unfortunate series of event:
I received a text message from my brother’s live-in partner at 1:07 AM, July 9, 2014, that he sustained multiple gunshot wounds. She allegedly called for help and sought police and barangay assistance but she claimed to no avail. From Manila, my sister and I made immediate contacts and strategic calls and even explored facebook messages for emergency assistance from nearby friends in the area. After what almost seems like an eternity of pleading for help, we were able to secure rescue assistance from the nearby barangay which is also our original home barangay (Sulucan, Angat, Bulacan).
The barangay rescue from Sulucan recalled how immediate Barangay Tanods from Marungko refused to help them move my brother to their rescue cab citing fear of "obstruction of justice" from the Angat Police who did not arrive at the scene of crime. It will only take not more than 15 minutes by private car from Angat to reach my brother's apartment. (please note that my brother is ALIVE and there is NO obstruction of justice by saving a person's life!!!)
It took almost 45 minutes before he was taken to the hospital. From then, my brother suffered more blood lost being passed around in five different hospitals who turned him away without providing adequate medical assistance, proper referral or immediate first aid. Was it really the lack of surgeon or limited facilities even among private hospitals which boast of its advance facilities? or is it more like avoiding potential court cases by admitting such patient as insinuated by the accompanying Sulucan barangay rescue team?
- From the traitors and heartless cold-blooded killers who denied his future existence with multiple gun shots fired right at his own home
- From the absence of rescue operation starting from the immediate Barangay (Marungko, Angat, Bulacan) who denied immediate rescue support to the absence of immediate response from the local PNP of Angat;
- From the five hospitals who turned him away without providing adequate medical assistance or first aid; and
- From the poor handling, insensitive, and lack of appropriate medical intervention of the last government hospital who finally admitted him but made despicable remarks and conscious disregard of the substantial needs of my brother in his critical condition.
- Sto. Nino, Hospital in Bustos [private] - (this is the place where my brother was born which made my mom really emotionally devastated) She came back there and ranted at the nurse station... I could almost experience her cries and pain...
- Castro Hospital in Baliwag [private] (where my parents and grandparents seek for hospitalization services) who turned him away for having no surgeon on duty (The surgeon-on-call, also our parents doctor, later disclosed that he wasn't completely informed about it. He claimed he was very much willing and ready to attend to his medical needs. How ironic!)
- Marcelo Hospital in Baliwag [private] - the first hospital who provided initial first aid upon my request (I was pleading as I got opportunity to speak on the attending nurse on the mobile phone) They sent him off to the next hospital for they claimed not to have the facility including the required surgeon)
- Our lady of Grace in Pulilan [private] - (where my cousin serves as a nurse but was off duty that night; her nurse colleague-on-duty told her that should she have known he was her cousin,she should have made arrangements to contact a surgeon, isnt that more painfully ironic?);
- Plaridel Hospital [Government]- (Again I have the opportunity to speak on the phone as I was already hysterical-on-the-phone begging for mercy to the nurse-on-duty to transfer him on an ambulance with medical staff to take him to East Avenue in Manila) but instead they decided to bring him to the Bulacan instead for immediate blood transfusion since the Red Cross blood bank is in Malolos.
- Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos [Government]- At first, the hospital personnel refused to take him complaining the absence of referral from Plaridel hospital. They finally admitted him at 3:35 AM but the hospital personnel kept on complaining for lack of referral. My mother immediately sought necessary requirements for immediate blood transfusion.. Unfortunately, he died at the emergency room without any blood transfusion at 5:20 AM.. My younger brother witnessed how his kuya Jonjon died fighting for his last breath. He saw his Kuya's tears falling from his eyes...
I received a text message from my brother’s live-in partner at 1:07 AM, July 9, 2014, that he sustained multiple gunshot wounds. She allegedly called for help and sought police and barangay assistance but she claimed to no avail. From Manila, my sister and I made immediate contacts and strategic calls and even explored facebook messages for emergency assistance from nearby friends in the area. After what almost seems like an eternity of pleading for help, we were able to secure rescue assistance from the nearby barangay which is also our original home barangay (Sulucan, Angat, Bulacan).
The barangay rescue from Sulucan recalled how immediate Barangay Tanods from Marungko refused to help them move my brother to their rescue cab citing fear of "obstruction of justice" from the Angat Police who did not arrive at the scene of crime. It will only take not more than 15 minutes by private car from Angat to reach my brother's apartment. (please note that my brother is ALIVE and there is NO obstruction of justice by saving a person's life!!!)
It took almost 45 minutes before he was taken to the hospital. From then, my brother suffered more blood lost being passed around in five different hospitals who turned him away without providing adequate medical assistance, proper referral or immediate first aid. Was it really the lack of surgeon or limited facilities even among private hospitals which boast of its advance facilities? or is it more like avoiding potential court cases by admitting such patient as insinuated by the accompanying Sulucan barangay rescue team?
My brother fought for survival for more than four hours until
he slowly bled out to death last July 9, 2014. He died at the emergency room of the
sixth tertiary hospital who finally admitted him but neglected to provide him
immediate blood transfusion and appropriate medical intervention from 3:35 A.M. to
5:20 A.M.! It seems as if he was only admitted at face value BUT THERE WAS REALLY NO INTENTION OF HELPING HIM SURVIVE!!!
Ironically, among my brother's last few words when he was
shot were "Mhei, bakit nila ako Binaril? Bakit nila ako binaril?" at "Ospital, Ospital!" as recounted by their neighbors. In his desperate moments, he even asked his youngest son to seek for our mother and bring him to the Hospital.
His 5 year old son, Payoy, shared his post traumatic experience of how his daddy instructed him to seek help to "Mama" (their grandmother) and bring him to the hospital. Payoy recounted how he was holding the hand of his 3 year old baby sister reminding her what their dad said about safely walking in the street while looking for mama. I found it ironic that my brother was left without a choice but to seek help from his very young children for survival... I can only imagine the traumatic experience of witnessing a bloody incident especially from a 5 year old boy who took it upon his shoulder means to ask help for his father's survival.
According to our younger brother, his kuya Jonjon remained strong. He can even managed to walk and talk, giving his usual "thumbs up" sign to reassure him throughout the painstaking process of seeking appropriate medical intervention. Jonjon even walk and stand at the xray room. His vital signs were ok. I was monitoring calls to my friend whom I called to go with the rescue team. We were assured my brother will survive given the presence of a surgeon which was the reason cited earlier by hospitals for his non-admission. He was finally admitted at the last hospital at 3:35 AM. He doesn't deserve to die at the emergency room waiting for the right intervention until 5:20 AM!
When Jonjon was admitted at the hospital (3:35 AM), the doctor said "masama ang lagay ng kapatid mo, pwedeng matigok na iyan" or "you're brother looks bad, he will likely die." (matitigok is a very insensitive termed used for dying) My accompanying younger brother, Jomar, responded "Gawin nyo muna po ang magagawa nyo at pakibilis lang po kasi baka maubusan ng dugo." Jomar noticed that the doctor responded with a display of arrogance and insensitivity. There was no sense of urgency every time he made pleas for follow up medical intervention call.
His 5 year old son, Payoy, shared his post traumatic experience of how his daddy instructed him to seek help to "Mama" (their grandmother) and bring him to the hospital. Payoy recounted how he was holding the hand of his 3 year old baby sister reminding her what their dad said about safely walking in the street while looking for mama. I found it ironic that my brother was left without a choice but to seek help from his very young children for survival... I can only imagine the traumatic experience of witnessing a bloody incident especially from a 5 year old boy who took it upon his shoulder means to ask help for his father's survival.
According to our younger brother, his kuya Jonjon remained strong. He can even managed to walk and talk, giving his usual "thumbs up" sign to reassure him throughout the painstaking process of seeking appropriate medical intervention. Jonjon even walk and stand at the xray room. His vital signs were ok. I was monitoring calls to my friend whom I called to go with the rescue team. We were assured my brother will survive given the presence of a surgeon which was the reason cited earlier by hospitals for his non-admission. He was finally admitted at the last hospital at 3:35 AM. He doesn't deserve to die at the emergency room waiting for the right intervention until 5:20 AM!
When Jonjon was admitted at the hospital (3:35 AM), the doctor said "masama ang lagay ng kapatid mo, pwedeng matigok na iyan" or "you're brother looks bad, he will likely die." (matitigok is a very insensitive termed used for dying) My accompanying younger brother, Jomar, responded "Gawin nyo muna po ang magagawa nyo at pakibilis lang po kasi baka maubusan ng dugo." Jomar noticed that the doctor responded with a display of arrogance and insensitivity. There was no sense of urgency every time he made pleas for follow up medical intervention call.
Jonjon was still communicating to our younger brother (Jomar) who kept on
pleading for follow-up for medical intervention. Jomar was pleading emotionally for pain
medications and blood transfusion for his kuya but hospital staff were hardly paying attention saying
there was no doctor’s advice. Jomar even offered his own blood (he have the same blood type with kuya Jonjon) but the doctor only smirked and said "hindi basta-basta
yan, kailangan ng testing dyan" ("that's not just done that way, you
need to test your blood") My brother responded "then test my blood
just give my brother blood transfusion."
From time to time, our younger brother would go to his kuya Jonjon to give him assurance that everything would be fine, that the entire family
were there and that he was receiving medical interventions just to strengthen
his kuya.
He then saw the blood pack intended for his kuya. He immediately followed up but they responded again there was no doctor's advice. They only came to him when they were prompted to provide him CPR as he was already going through his last breath experiencing
cardiac arrest. When my younger brother asked for a defibrillator (shock
machine) to revive his kuya Jonjon, the doctor simply smirked at him saying "Wala kami dito non at hindi iyon basta-basta ginagamit iyon" or
"We dont have it here, It's not being simply used."
Why??? no defibrillator on a tertiary hospital??? I am
really so furious upon learning this from my brother.
My brother may have cheated death with multiple gunshot
wounds but he slowly bled out for hours. He died at the emergency room of a
tertiary hospital waiting for appropriate medical intervention. They did not even bother to provide him a blanket when he was cold... but they provided him one to cover his expired body...
Jonjon left us with so many questions regarding what really transpired and caused him this agonizing and cruel death. The last time I talked with my brother, he told me he was preparing for his medical requirements to go back to Saudi. He even hugged me with his sweetest smile and kissed me on the cheek while reminding me about taking care of my health... and how he wanted me to have my own family like him... I miss you so much my loving brother...
Jonjon left us with so many questions regarding what really transpired and caused him this agonizing and cruel death. The last time I talked with my brother, he told me he was preparing for his medical requirements to go back to Saudi. He even hugged me with his sweetest smile and kissed me on the cheek while reminding me about taking care of my health... and how he wanted me to have my own family like him... I miss you so much my loving brother...
(Jonjon with our loving mama... He loves mama so much.. he was the kind of son who will always hug, kiss and say I love you to my parents. Whether it is good or bad days, he will always end up hugging and loving us.. there is no one like you my dearest brother...)
On the day before he was brutally shot, he
spent long hours with my mother, sharing about his activity to report the next day to his
agent for another Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) contract in Saudi. They spent long time at
our swing sharing his future plans for his kids and what he wanted to buy for my mother when he goes back to Saudi. He talked about good times and rough times and so many other things until he left our place around 8pm. My mother can't hardly believe
it will be the last time he will share bonding stories with his first born son...
Why??? Why did you kill our brother?? Why did you kill his future and the future of having a loving father to his five children?? Why did you kill the love he have for his family??
WHO ARE YOU TO DECIDE THE FATE OF A PERSON'S LIFE??? Will you feed his family? Will you give the same love and dedication to his five children??? You OWE these kids their future with a loving father to guide them..
WHO ARE YOU TO DECIDE THE FATE OF A PERSON'S LIFE??? Will you feed his family? Will you give the same love and dedication to his five children??? You OWE these kids their future with a loving father to guide them..
(My brother's skype video recording with his children on Christmas day while in Saudi Arabia working for two years as a Cook. He took multiple jobs to support his 5 kids including cooking Filipino foods on special occasions, personal image sketching work and many other odd jobs so he can send special gifts to all of us...)
(When he returned from Saudi, the first thing he wanted to do was to bring his five kids to a movie date. He then asked me to take pictures of them. I was a happy witness to their father-children bonding moments ...)
My brother is not perfect but he is not a bad person. I have always admired him for his humility in accepting and apologizing for his mistakes. My brother has been a living testimony of how a person can change for the better... His life struggles wasn't easy but he persevered and strived harder to become a better person. I have always been proud of his achievements from being a hard working OFW in Saudi until he reached for his dream working at a cruise ship in Australia. He has been been an inspiration especially to his younger cousins on how to strive for their dreams. My loving brother does not deserve this cruel death!
(He have always dreamed of becoming a seafarer like our father. His life was never easy but he persevered even with so many difficulties and discouragements, he endured all challenges and finally land a job in an Australian based cruise ship... We were so proud of him.. and we miss him so much...)
Jonjon, you are our greatest cook (next to Mama), our most
affectionate, sweet and loving sibling, our artist, our loving Jonjon.
(Just months before the tragic incident, he have been thinking about his first love as an artist. He is great with painting, drawing, molding, and even creating house furniture!...)
You are
a loving father to your kids.. You don’t deserve to die this way, you don’t
deserve dying without a fighting chance for survival. You have proven until
your last breath your love for us, fighting and still trying to cheat death to
be with us…
We love you Jonjon… I share your many hopes and dreams for yourself and your kids...
I am not prepared for your untimely death. I cannot accept how
you died with cruelty, poor rescue efforts and lack of compassion from expected rescue and medical intervention. These cruel system... these people also killed you. It is so painful to find
out on my way that you were gone.. I was assured you’re going to
live but now you are gone…
I am appealing and pleading for help, both personal and systemic, to
address issues of injustice, lack/absence of effective rescue coordination,
access to appropriate medical and gender sensitive intervention. Let all the
individuals and families who experience these unfortunate situations come together. Let us work and address these challenges of keeping our family safe and restoring our faith in humanity!
Those who have good heart to help raise educational funds for his five children. please support us through the fundraising link established by our loving cousin Chachung ... Those who have lead information for these criminals or to those kindhearted advocates to assist our fight for social justice, I plead for your help..
Thank you very much for taking time to read this post.. May God bless your heart and keep you and your loved ones safe from this worldly dangers and harm. Amen.
Those who have good heart to help raise educational funds for his five children. please support us through the fundraising link established by our loving cousin Chachung ... Those who have lead information for these criminals or to those kindhearted advocates to assist our fight for social justice, I plead for your help..
Thank you very much for taking time to read this post.. May God bless your heart and keep you and your loved ones safe from this worldly dangers and harm. Amen.
