Milagros (Mila), a mother of four children, was an active GABRIELA member and volunteered as a para legal for the human rights group, KARAPATAN. On 22 July, 2001, at around 3:00 PM, two men, one of whom was identified as a member of the para-military group, CAFGU*, came looking for Mila at her house.

Mila’s 10 year-old daughter who was at home called Mila who was then at their neighbour’s house. When Mila returned home, her daughter heard the two men asking Mila for a loan, after which the child also witnessed the two men shoot and stab their mother. Mila received two gunshot wounds in her chest and stomach. A stab wound was also found near her chest. Four bullet shells were recovered from the site. Mila died on the spot.

Mila had previously been harassed and accused of being a supporter of the New People’s Army. To allay the situation and dispute accusations, Mila and her husband had obeyed orders to report to the Southern Luzon Command and even attended seminars being conducted by the AFP in the area the previous April.