The brutal death of 'bunso'

MANILA - The Acorda family was supposed to have a spring reunion in Slovakia but it was the remains of their "bunso" (youngest) that welcomed them in the European country last May.

Filipino Henry John Serafica Acorda, 36, died while protecting a Filipina friend from being sexually harassed by a Slovak national. He was allegedly beaten to death by the bulky suspect, Juraj Hossu, on a Bratislava sidewalk in the early hours of May 26, Saturday.

"Unconscious na 'yung brother ko pero hindi pa niya nilubayan. Pinagtatadyakan pa niya sa ulo. Sa ulo niya tinira nang tinira," Mina Acorda Baylon, the victim's elder sister, told ABS-CBN News after talking to the Filipina her brother was protecting.

(My brother was already unconscious but the attacker did not stop kicking him in the head again and again.)

Baylon, who is currently in Slovakia to followup on the case, said her brother and another female friend came out of a pizza place in a busy area in Slovakia's capital when they saw the suspect forcing their other female friend outside to get in a taxi.

Acorda covered for the Pinay, shared Baylon, but the much bigger attacker turned his anger on the Filipino. The incident was caught on the CCTV of a nearby establishment.

The video below was uploaded on Slovakian media website "Aktuality."

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Acorda was still in critical condition when Baylon learned about the incident through his friend. Baylon, his brother, and mother applied for an emergency visa so they could go to Slovakia.

But before they could get there, the family received the bad news. Acorda had died in the hospital on May 31.

"Sa Doha, Qatar pa lang kami patay na 'yung kapatid. Connecting flight pa lang kami... Mayroon na akong na-feel sa sarili ko. Naramdaman ko na nawala na siya eh. Parang nag-last breath din ako," said Baylon, who said she was the closest sibling to Acorda.

(We were still Doha, Qatar for our connecting flight when we got the news that my brother died. But before the news came, I felt it already. I felt like I also had my last breath.)

Acorda had been working for a multinational company in Slovakia for a little over a year. He was transferred there by the company from Malaysia. His family was supposed to visit him in May for the spring season.

"Supposedly, December 2017 kami pupunta pero sabi niya, 'Ate Mina, baka hindi matagalan ni Mommy ang winter dito. Spring time na lang kayo pumunta,' which is May talaga. Nakapunta kami nang May pero patay na siya," shared Baylon, who said she would forever miss random video calls with Henry.

(We were supposed to be here in December 2017 but Henry said, 'Ate Mina, mommy might not endure winter here. Come here in spring time.' That was supposed to be May. Sure, we were able to come here but he was already dead.)

A FILIPINO HERO ABROAD

Upon arriving in Slovakia, Baylon said the family was surprised with the support that poured from both the Filipino and Slovak communities in Bratislava. People would gather to pray at the spot where Acorda was mauled to death.

She said Filipino migrant workers in Slovakia would approach them or send them messages about how Henry helped them in several instances. Some were even crying recalling the Filipino's good deeds.

"Parang hero siya talaga dito... Sa Filipino communities dito, ilan lang silang professionals, mostly domestic helpers na. Sabi nila wala si Henry na tinitingnan kung anong class kang tao. Mayroon siyang in-assist dito na domestic helper na kumukuha ng renewal ng working permit. Nakasabay lang niya dito. Sabi niya, 'sige, ate, hihintayin kita hanggang matapos ka.' Para silang nawalan ng family member," Baylon shared.

(Henry is like a hero here. He was one of the few professional Pinoys here. Most of the members of the Filipino community here are domestic helpers. They said Henry looked beyond social class. He even assisted a domestic helper in renewing a work permit. He said, 'ate, I'll wait for you until you're finished.' The community felt like they lost a family member.)

She said even Slovaks would approach them to offer help and even legal assistance. The locals of the European country, disgusted by what their countryman did, wanted to at least do something to makeup for the tragic incident, she added.

After the mauling, suspect Hossu was captured but was immediately released by the police. He was rearrested after Acorda died but only for charges of manslaughter, which has a penalty of 7 to 12 years in prison.

The Acorda family is now in talks with a lawyer to help them elevate the charges to murder. They also want to go back to the Philippines with Acorda's body so they could give him a proper burial back home.

The Philippine Consulate through Pavol Konstiak and Lanie Feliciano, along with Philippine Ambassador to Slovakia Maria Cleofe Natividad, have been helping the family in the case, said Baylon.

The family hopes the Philippine government would help them in making sure the case would progress fast to give justice to Henry's death.

"Sana matutukan 'yung kaso kahit umuwi na kami," said Baylon.

(I hope the government would give attention to the case even after we go home.)