|
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Favila ‘on vacation’ at NBI, awaits fiscals’ ruling on case
MICHEL Favila Sr. has to get used to living without his wife and two children in the coming days, after he vowed stay with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 until his preliminary investigation ends.
The Cebu City Pro-secutor’s Office has given Favila 10 days to reply to the murder complaint filed against him over the fatal shooting of Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco.
Favila dreads the prospect that he might celebrate his 49th birthday in Cebu City on Nov. 19. He hopes to celebrate with his family back home in Barangay Talaga, Cagayancillo, an island town about 20 hours by boat from Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
“Morag nibakasyon ta diri sa Cebu pero na perwisyo intawon ang akong pamilya. Di pa ko siguro kung nahibawo na ba sila didto (It’s as if I’m on vacation, but my family must be so worried. I don’t think they realize what has happened to me),” said Favila, whom Sun.Star visited at the NBI 7 yesterday afternoon.
Basement room
Favila and his nephew Joel Cayao are staying in a basement room of the NBI 7 building in Barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City.
Barefoot and clad in white sleeveless shirt and khaki shorts, Favila had to sleep on a mat on the floor Thursday night, as he still has to get a folding bed.
Favila took exception to a newspaper report that he lied to the media about attending the coronation night of Cagayancillo’s fiesta queen last Oct. 11.
He said he was mistaken because Cagayan-cillo celebrates its annual fiesta every Sept. 9-10.
Favila said he was in Barangay Talaga, repairing his fishing boat, when Yongco was shot in her office last Oct. 11. He said his neighbors and barangay officials can attest to this.
Meanwhile, NBI 7 Chief Medardo de Lemos said the NBI 7 had no malicious intent when the turnover of Favila to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 was delayed Wednesday night.
De Lemos described it as NBI 7’s “prudent action” then because Favila was not considered arrested.
Favila had requested that he be placed in the bureau’s protective custody because he did not want to be turned over to the other unit.
“That was our position then because we could not legally hold him. But there was no intention at all to delay his turnover,” de Lemos said.
The NBI, CIDG and the lawyers had a tug-of-war over who should take custody of Favila, since he was not arrested but showed up at the NBI office in Palawan to deny any involvement in the Yongco murder.
Favila began his day yesterday morning with a hot cup of coffee at the NBI 7 canteen. But he was interrupted when a radio broadcaster called him up for an interview.
Steaming “tinola” (fish) soup and fried egg were Favila’s breakfast at the canteen. He is not used to eating meat.
Favila, a fisherman, left behind his 46-year-old wife Thelma and two children—Favila Jr., 15, and Miriam, 12—in Cagayancillo when he took a fishing vessel bound for Punta Princesa last Oct. 17.
Favila, a senior member of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), said his family had no idea that upon his arrival in Palawan mainland the next day, he would be going to Cebu.
Favila learned in Puerto Princesa that he was tagged as the assailant of Yongco, who was shot four times in her office in Zapatera, Cebu City last Oct. 11.
At the time of her death, Yongco was a private prosecutor handling the parricide case PBMA supreme master Ruben Ecleo Jr. is facing for the death of his wife Alona Bacolod-Ecleo.
Favila revealed in earlier interviews that Rep. Glenda Ecleo (Surigao del Norte), Ruben’s mother, prodded him to appear at the NBI to clear his name.
Favila surfaced at NBI Puerto Princesa district office last Oct. 18 past 2 p.m.
The next day, he acceded to the NBI’s invitation to take him to Cebu to face the police witnesses.
Aboard a PAL plane, Favila, accompanied by NBI officials, arrived at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport via Manila past 4 p.m. last Wednesday.
Now that Favila is with the NBI 7, Director de Lemos said “his movement is restricted primarily because of security reasons.”
But since no arrest warrant has been issued yet against Favila, de Lemos said the suspect can insist to leave the bureau if he wants to.
But de Lemos assured that he will inform Cebu City Prosecutor Cezar Tajanlangit and all the parties involved if Favila decides to leave the NBI 7. (GC)
(October 23, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
