Family of victim Virginia Sesbreño has entrusted case to God

Sunday, February 5, 2012

IF THERE is one thing she will always be remembered for, Virgina Sesbreño was a fighter in her own right.

The 65-year-old ambush-slay victim was buried yesterday afternoon at the Carreta cemetery on Gen. Maxilom Ave., Cebu City.

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Grief was etched on the faces of her family, relatives, and friends who came to pay their last respects.

Her death, along with 30-year-old Joshua Young and 51-year-old Soledad Epanto, stemmed from a land dispute and ongoing demolition in Barangay Lawaan, Talisay City.

Her husband, lawyer Raul Sesbreño, claims co-ownership of the property.

Surigao-bound

Two men in a motorcycle peppered their vehicle with bullets when their pickup stopped for a red light at the junction of Rabayan St. and the Cebu South Coastal Road in Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City last Wednesday.

Young’s body was transported to Surigao del Sur yesterday.

Meanwhile, Epanto’s wake was held in Barangay Lawaan.

Less than 50 people joined the vehicle convoy from the funeral home to the cemetery that started at 1 p.m.

According to Virginia’s 56-year-old sister who asked not to be named, the victim was like a second mother to her and her other sibling.

“My sister was really a fighter. She would not easily back out,” she said.

She said Virginia was also helpful. “She was someone who you could rely on,” she said.

Virginia’s family has entrusted the case to God, saying they can’t take the law into their own hands.

Her youngest son Peter, though, vowed to seek justice for his mother’s death.

Joint operation

“Naangin ra sila. Wala sila’y kalaban-kalaban (They had nothing to do with the case),” he said.

He said they are satisfied with how the investigation is going, adding that they only tapped the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 to expedite the case.

Operatives from the NBI 7, along with the police, will conduct a joint operation.

“Mas maayo nga daghan ang magtinabangay (It’s better to have more people looking into the case),” Peter said.

Criminal complaints will be filed against the identified suspects soon after death certificates and ballistic examination results are made available.

Demolition

Talisay City Police Station Chief Eddie Recamara said he believes the gunman and the motorcycle drive are still in Cebu.

However, he refused to disclose more details that might hamper their operation.

Six suspects in the ambush, possibly over a land dispute, were identified.

Police went after one of them, to no avail.

Virginia’s death pushed the family to go ahead with the demolition tomorrow. Police will be deployed to avoid violence.

“Everything’s ready. We expect it to be peaceful,” Recamara said, citing that homeowners have been cooperating with police.