See you on June 7

On May 24, there was a hearing on my daughter Carmelita Guiao’s case. The question is whether the case was decided by following all the juridical basics and technicalities required.

If you remember she got sentenced for 20 years for a hate-love fight with her then lover. On the pages of our local newspapers, so many times and so many ways, I have been demanding, I was pleading for our leaderships’, specialists’, goodwill people’s attention to this so unfair sentence.

For a long time, there was no response at all. First, nobody cared why her sentence is so out of proportion. As if they did not to know that her precedent may get applied to every CNMI women sooner or later. I thought there would be no hope to hope for. I thought my daughter, mother of five, would spend the most mature part of her life in prison and her children would be scattered all the time. The sufferings in the prison, she has had to endure hard times that are difficult to explain in words.

But, thanks to the Lord, we survived Soudelor and other disasters in our land and in our lives! Now, we have a slim hope for justice. A person decided, on his own time and resources, to shoulder me a deep elderly on my efforts to see my daughter’s burden lightened, at least! He submitted an appeal in behalf of Carmelita! Our bows to him!

On the May 24 hearing, a group caring for justice from Grace Assembly headed by Pastor Fatilofa, noble lady Rosario Ibanes from Aperum International Ministry, and many nice souls were present. My sincere thanks to all of them!

The next hearing is scheduled on June 7, 2016. All the people caring and hoping that my daughter finally gets justice are welcome to attend. Especially, CNMI Women’s Association, human rights watch groups, just caring goodwill women, people with human dignity and integrity who can see clearer the danger of undeserved harshness toward woman law violations, please do not stay on the sidelines! Let us unite in appealing Carmelita’s case! Let us ask the honorable judge to consider the matter one more time with a fresh look! Let us fight together to make our beautiful islands an ever more just island.

I’ll see you on June 7, 2016 at our Superior Court at 10:30am!

Teddy Guiao
Lower Navy Hill