The Philippines relies heavily on its fishing industry, but overfishing remains a critical issue threatening the nation’s marine biodiversity. Organizations like Reef Check, a private NGO, send experts worldwide to help protect coral reefs and educate local communities.

One such expert was Stuart Green, a marine biologist from the United Kingdom, who was sent to the Philippines. While working in Cebu, Stuart, affectionately nicknamed “Estong” by locals, found his organization facing legal challenges from groups impacted by their conservation efforts.

The lawyer who stepped up to defend Reef Check pro bono was Manuelita “Mia” Mascariñas, a prominent and principled environmental attorney from Bohol. Mia came from a distinguished family of lawyers.

After her mother passed away when she was six, her father raised her and her four siblings. She excelled academically, graduating summa cum laude with an accounting degree before following in her parents’ footsteps and becoming a lawyer.

She was known as a “hardcore” environmental attorney who never lost a case, a law professor, and a fierce advocate for the abused. During the legal battle for Reef Check, a romance blossomed between the British scientist and the Filipina lawyer.

Stuart, captivated by Mia, pursued her relentlessly, even finding excuses by bringing her new cases from local fishermen. They married on June 26, 2004, and eventually had three children: a daughter, Zoe (10), and twin toddlers (2).

Stuart continued his marine biology work, while Mia became one of Bohol’s most influential and fearless lawyers. In 2017, the family decided Mia would reduce her workload to part-time to focus on their children’s education, supported by Stuart’s income.

She was, by all accounts, overjoyed in her role as a full-time mother. This domestic peace was shattered on February 15, 2017. While Stuart was attending a seminar in Bangkok, Thailand, news broke that Mia, 44, had been attacked.

She was rushed to Holy Name University Medical Center but, after two hours, was declared de@d. The community was stunned. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Bohol Chapter immediately condemned the act, calling for justice.

Initial suspicions that Stuart might be involved were quickly dismissed; immigration records confirmed he was out of the country. Investigators then focused on Mia’s high-profile legal work, suspecting the motive was work-related.

Public outrage grew, with supporters holding vigils and pooling a PHP 600,000 reward for information. Authorities soon identified their primary person of interest: Lloyd Gonzaga.

Police raided the Alona Embrace Hotel in Panglao, where Gonzaga was reportedly staying, but he had already fled. Inside, they found grenades, guns, and shabu.

Gonzaga, it turned out, was already out on bail for a previous illegal firearm charge, along with his alleged accomplice, Romarico Benigian. Stuart Green, upon his immediate return from Thailand, filed formal charges against Gonzaga, Benigian, and two John Does, revealing the chilling motive.

Mia had been representing Conrada Blomqvist, a businesswoman and Gonzaga’s own mother-in-law. Conrada had purchased the Alona Embrace Hotel from her nephew, but Gonzaga was allegedly trying to “kamkamin” (forcibly take) the resort, claiming he was the legal owner using falsified documents.

The dispute escalated. In October 2016, Gonzaga and Benigian forcibly entered the resort. Conrada called the police, who arrested the pair for illegal firearms and shabu, though they quickly posted bail.

Mia’s legal work was proving successful; she had reportedly obtained BIR records confirming Conrada as the sole legal owner of the resort. Mia planned to use this evidence to file forgery and usurpation charges against Gonzaga on February 20, 2017.

Conrada revealed that on February 14, just one day before Mia’s passing, Gonzaga had called her, threatening both her and Mia. He allegedly said their end was near and he would “smash their heads,” calling them “demons.”

On February 15, around 4:45 p.m., Gonzaga allegedly made good on his threat. Mia had just picked up her three children and their 4-year nanny from school and was driving her Toyota Innova along a busy road in Tagbilaran City.

Witnesses described a motorcycle blocking her car, while another pulled up alongside. Gunmen from the motorcycles and others apparently waiting on the roadside opened fire, ambushing the vehicle.

The attackers opened the car doors and caused fatal injuries to Mia, in the driver’s seat. Her 10-year-old daughter, Zoe, witnessed the entire event. She bravely recounted screaming at the suspects to stop.

The nanny also testified that one of the gunmen pointed a weapon at them in the backseat, but for unexplained reasons, the gun failed to fire. After the gunmen fled, Zoe, despite her shock, had the presence of mind to climb into the front seat, retrieve her mother’s phone, and call Mia’s office for help.

She then got out of the car to flag down assistance, all while her younger twin siblings were terrified in the backseat. The nanny remembered Zoe’s heartbreaking words to her mother: “Sorry Mommy, I love you, Mommy.”

The post-mortem revealed Mia sustained 28 gunshot wounds, with three to the head and four to the body proving fatal. Both Zoe and another witness, a loan collector, positively identified Gonzaga and Benigian as the attackers.

They were charged with serious offenses. Fearing for his children’s lives, Stuart Green immediately moved them to Manila and eventually back to his home in England.

Four months after the brutal crime, Gonzaga and Benigian were finally arrested. They denied the charges, claiming they were not in the vicinity of the crime.

The case, however, has been fraught with delays for seven years, first by Gonzaga’s (denied) request to move the trial venue to Quezon City citing safety fears, and later by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of the latest reports, the trial is still ongoing, and the family is awaiting justice. Stuart Green and the children remain in England, where a GoFundMe page was set up to help fund the children’s education, fulfilling one of Mia’s most cherished dreams.