The Will to Fight
By Akira Liwanag
Kiko Luneta is among the few people who are still fighting for the justice being sought by the members of Desaparecidos. At 56, Kiko still continues the search for the disappeared.
It was in the year 1976 when suspected military men forcibly took Kiko's sister-in-law Nenita Evangelista Luneta and her 3-year-old daughter Nina from their home in Nueva Ecija. When Franco Luneta (twin brother of Kiko and husband of Nenita) learned about the incident, he had no choice but to go to China and hide because he knew he was next. "He experienced culture shock along with grief," Kiko said, "When he came back to the Philippines he was not the Franco that I knew. How would you feel is you lost a wife and child?"
Kiko and Franco Luneta are among the famed "Luneta Brothers" who were part of the Underground Project MV Andrea Case during the dictatorial era of Marcos. Almost all of their family members were imprisoned and tortured by the military including their sister Maxima, who was pregnant with her first child that time. "They tortured her," Kiko narrated with a sad but strong look in his face. He said that Maxima lost her baby. Kiko was just grateful that they did not kill her sister and freed her.
Until this day, Kiko still has enough hope that fuels him to fight and continue the search for his sister-in-law and niece and attain justice for his family. The three decades that passed since the day of the disappearances did not deter him one bit. "They might not have killed the child," he said. "We are still looking for her. We think that she may just be in a safehouse. If my niece were alive, she would be 33 years old today."
Kiko Luneta is an example of a brave person who is ready to fight for his country and countrymen.He is truly a man of infinite hope. He is now one of the most active members of the Desaparecidos. As he aptly put it, "Kapag may ipaglalaban, lalaban talaga ako." (If there is something to fight for, I will really fight.)