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Monday, October 18, 2004
Doing Arbet's work
NOW that the body of slain lawyer Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco has been laid to rest, lawyers and women’s groups are pooling resources to make sure that justice will be served.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Cebu City chapter criticized the media blackout imposed by law enforcement agencies, saying they would like to know the progress of the investigation.
In a related legal battle, the lawyers’ group will form a leaner panel of 10 to 15 private practitioners to stand as prosecutors in the parricide case against Ruben Ecleo Jr., in which Yongco served as private prosecutor.
Thelma Chiong of the Crusade Against Violence said women’s groups will gather today at the Malacañang sa Sugbo to discuss their next move, then meet with Police Regional Office 7 Director Rolan-do Garcia for updates on Yongco’s murder investigation.
Chiong said they will request that all witnesses to Yongco’s murder be placed under the witness protection program.
Yongco’s life
On Oct. 21, women’s groups will celebrate Yongco’s life in ceremonies at the Capitol square. Lihok Filipina’s Purita Sanchez is urging those who want to attend to bring candles, wear white and pin a corsage on their clothes as Yongco often did.
Sanchez was worried that after Yongco’s burial and the media blackout, the case would die down.
Lawyer Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu, a member of the IBP-Cebu City board of directors, expressed the group’s disagreement with the media blackout.
“We will not be intervening. We will not be meddling. But we lawyers want to be informed. The lawyers don’t want to be shut out from the investigation,” she said.
She said that personally, the IBP could help the police determine if the evidence they have is strong or not.
On Ecleo’s case, IBP-Cebu City chapter president Democrito Barcenas clarified it is not necessary that 100 lawyers appear in that case, referring to a statement City Councilor Gerry Carillo expressed right after Yongco’s murder.
“It was just a symbolism of our collective assistance to the cause of Yongco,” Barcenas said.
Carillo earlier said a hundred lawyers will rise to continue the fight for every lawyer that is murdered.
Small group
Barcenas said a panel of about 10 to 15 lawyers would be enough, while the others who volunteered will be asked to handle the other cases Yongco left.
“I think a small group of lawyers can already work well and agree among themselves on what steps to take in the case,” Barcenas said.
At present, close to 50 lawyers have already signed up for their appearance in the parricide case against Ecleo, which will be raffled off to another judge today after Regional Trial Court Branch 5 Judge Ireneo Lee Gako Jr. gave up the case.
Barcenas said the document on the entry of appearance is still being circulated among different law organizations in Cebu, which means that the number of volunteer-lawyers could rise.
He said the heads of the different law organizations will decide soon on the prosecution panel. The other lawyers can serve as researchers and investigators for the case, while some will handle the other cases Yongco had prosecuted.
Clamor
Saying that “too many cooks might spoil the broth,” Dalawampu, along with other lawyers, earlier cautioned the IBP that the numerous lawyers might not be good to the prosecution.
Joining the clamor for justice for Yongco, the National Network of Family Violence Prevention Programs, in a statement, said they are dedicating their training on the effective implementation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004 to Yongco.
The training begins today.
“We condemn the people involved in this conspiracy of violence and death. Only craven meanness and absolute corruption of human values could have brought about her murder,” the group’s statement said.
Last Oct. 11, a gunman barged into Yongco’s home at corner Alcohol and Sikatuna Sts., Cebu City and killed the 38-year-old lawyer. MEA/GN
(October 18, 2004 issue)
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