Chile: The assault on Gabriel Boric’s neighborhood

The assault on a convent in Chile, right in President Gabriel Boric’s neighborhood, has drawn attention and sparked various opinions in Chilean society.

The violent attack on nuns in President Gabriel Boric’s neighborhood has been subjected to public scrutiny.

“We were held at knifepoint for an hour, I had to negotiate our own freedom, our own lives.

They threatened us that if we screamed, they would rape us, that we should stay quiet and only give them the money,” said Rosa Elena Bohamondes, a nun affected by the incident.

The incident occurred during the early hours of January 27th inside the convent of the Congregation Daughters of St. Joseph, Protectors of Childhood.

On that day, two individuals armed with knives and firearms broke into the compound in President Gabriel Boric’s neighborhood with the intention of robbery.

They took two nuns hostage, tied them up, and threatened to rape them, ultimately making off with one million pesos.

Despite the robbery, the two criminals decided to pause and pray, perhaps pleading for their lives amidst their criminal act.

“They ransacked three entire offices, one stayed with one of the sisters. The other took me along the entire route, I told him there’s a sister bedridden, have mercy on her at least.

No respect. We passed by the chapel and he stopped to pray. So I said to him, you know how to pray too,” said the victim of the incident.

Reflecting on the prayer one of the criminals offered, the nun remarked, “One can make two judgments, either that he is a believer and life has him like this, or that it was an irony.”

The nun stated that the individuals told her, “We want the money that the nuns steal.” Inside that convent, she explained, there are several bedridden nuns. The place is adjacent to the Maria Luisa Villalón school.

The individuals, who acted with their faces uncovered, made off with one million pesos in cash. Additionally, they attempted to take computers, but were unsuccessful.

“They only told us to shut up, they shook us, and they only wanted money. They wanted to take the resources from the computers, but I wasn’t willing. It’s impossible when it’s so hard for us to buy the school supplies. And it can’t be that someone takes them so easily. Since they needed money, I said I’ll give you the money, but you won’t take anything,” added Bahamondes, who is also a Religion teacher.

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The assault on Gabriel Boric’s neighborhood

Furthermore, amidst the violent attack in President Gabriel Boric’s neighborhood, the nun said she sprayed him three times with alcohol spray.

“He asked me why I’m hurting him and I said to him the harm you do, do you think it’s less than the harm I’m doing to you. You touch me and you’ll know me,” she explained.

Finally, one of the nuns locked herself in a bathroom and called the police. Another woman inside the compound did the same.

The individuals even changed clothes before leaving, the nun recounted.

“This time they were very violent, they entered through the highest part of the convent. What I criticize is that we can’t continue like this, it’s impossible. The media today are all rushing because it was the nuns (affected), but it’s not us, it’s the citizens who are suffering. Today one finds oneself locked in one’s own home and it’s not normal. It’s not normal that we continue to be locked up, it’s not normal that we have to put electricity even on the roof.”

The assaulted location is located on Esperanza Street, the same neighborhood as President Gabriel Boric, in fact, just three blocks from the presidential residence.

“This neighborhood, Yungay neighborhood, is important for Santiago, everyone finds it beautiful, but for those who live here, for me, it’s not beautiful. If you go down towards Alameda it’s the biggest filth. I’m very critical, it’s the biggest trash we can have. And security is impossible, you can’t talk on the phone, you can’t carry a purse, you can’t come with your shopping because you’re mugged,” said the affected individual.

Asked if the arrival of Boric to the area has increased police presence, the nun said unequivocally, “No. For me, it was the worst,” she added.

“The neighborhood has changed a lot, there have been times when it was very stable, but it has changed a lot. Crime has increased a lot,” she commented.