Trapped in a Marriage of Abuse and Sacrifice: The Shocking Story of Edna’s Struggle and Her Unexpected Rise to Freedom

In June 2018, a woman’s desperate escape from the clutches of abuse and control shook the community of Kawayan, Isabela. Edna Murilo, carrying her young son Carlo in her arms, fled from her home, bruised, terrified, and shaken to the core. Her face swollen from a beating, her body trembling, and her heart weighed down with years of torment, Edna’s harrowing journey had reached its breaking point.

For five years, Edna endured a marriage filled with torment, isolation, and forced compliance. Married off at the young age of 12 to 35-year-old Bobby Mourillo, her life took a path she never chose. It wasn’t love or mutual consent that led to their union, but a family debt and the desire to settle a land transaction. In the eyes of the community, it was merely a business deal, but for Edna, it marked the beginning of a nightmare.

The first few months of their marriage seemed peaceful enough. Bobby came home early, was affectionate, and seemed gentle. But that facade quickly crumbled, revealing a man who was violent, controlling, and cruel. The first slap was followed by a cycle of verbal abuse, threats, and physical violence that Edna learned to endure in silence. Each time she attempted to leave and return to her family, Bobby’s threats and manipulations pulled her back into the suffocating cycle of abuse.

By 2014, Edna had given birth to their son Carlo, hoping that her husband would change. Instead, the violence only worsened. Bobby blamed Edna for their child’s cries, for his fatigue after work, and for every misfortune that befell their home. At night, as Bobby forced himself upon her, Edna found herself paralyzed by fear, unable to escape the man she had been forced to marry.

But even in the darkest of times, Edna found small moments of strength. Secretly, she began saving money. Small coins hidden in an old container, a tiny but precious stash of hope for a future that seemed impossible. In February 2018, that hope became a reality. While Bobby slept soundly, Edna quietly packed her things, waking Carlo, and escaping into the night. It was a moment of freedom that had been longed for and feared all at once.

However, when Edna arrived at her parents’ home, the reception was far from warm. Instead of a comforting embrace, she was met with cold stares. To her disbelief, her parents called Bobby to bring her back. In that moment, the painful truth came to light: Edna was adopted, and she was nothing more than a tool used to settle a debt. The love she had hoped for from her parents was never truly there. She was not their child in their eyes; she was a sacrifice made for financial gain.

Bobby took her back that night, and Edna endured yet another violent beating. Bruised and broken, she was unable to escape the life she had been forced into. But this time, something changed. After she had recovered, Edna sought help from the PNP Women’s Desk, where social workers intervened, and a medico-legal examination was conducted. She filed charges against Bobby for his abuse, and a case was also filed against her adoptive parents for forcing her into the marriage.

For the first time, Edna felt a glimmer of safety. No more shouting, no more slapping, no more threats of death. As the case proceeded, a shocking revelation came to light: Bobby’s first marriage, which had been in 2008, was still legally valid. His first wife came forward with an affidavit, recounting the same abuse that Edna had suffered. Bobby had also failed to provide for his first child. The case against him grew stronger.

In a stunning twist, it was revealed that Edna’s marriage to Bobby was invalid. This legal breakthrough was a moment of pure relief for Edna, a brief sigh of freedom after years of terror. As the investigation continued, it was also proven that her adoptive parents had violated the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, leading to further charges against them.

Edna, once a quiet victim, became a powerful witness in her own defense. In the courtroom, though silent, her resolve was evident in every word she spoke. She was no longer just fighting for herself—she was fighting for her son, for her dignity, and for all the other women who had been trapped in similar circumstances.

In November 2020, the verdict came in: Guilty. Bobby was sentenced to 30 years in prison for multiple counts of violence against women and children (VAWC). Edna’s adoptive parents were also convicted for human trafficking and sentenced to 10 years each. Though the pain of what she had endured could never be erased, Edna accepted the ruling not with anger, but with the quiet strength of a woman who had finally found justice.

With the support of the DSWD, Edna and Carlo were given a new home and a chance at a fresh start. She found work in a garment factory, and while their life was modest, it was peaceful. Carlo grew up strong, intelligent, and full of life, and Edna’s love for him only deepened with every day they spent together, free from the shadow of abuse.

In time, Edna’s heart began to heal, and a new man entered her life—Junbert Maniego, a driver-mechanic who was everything Bobby was not. Respectful, kind, and compassionate, Junbert accepted Edna’s past and loved her for who she was. He embraced Carlo as his own, and together they built a future based on love, trust, and mutual respect.

In February 2025, Edna and Junbert married in a simple, joyous ceremony. Junbert even took the legal step to have Carlo use his surname, a gesture that Edna and Carlo both cherished. At last, Edna had found the love and acceptance she had been denied for so long.

Now, with a new home in Santiago, far from the fears and abuse of her past, Edna wakes up every morning with a heart full of gratitude. She has rebuilt her life, surrounded by love, and surrounded by the family she had always dreamed of. The chapter of darkness is over, and a new story—one of freedom, healing, and hope—has begun.