Friday, October 12, 2007 Friends, kin of Yongco continue to pray for justice
AS six-year-old Fia jumped and played around her mother’s grave yesterday, some 30 family members and friends gathered and wept over the loss of lawyer Arbet Sta.
Ana-Yongco, who was murdered three years ago.
Yesterday marked the third year since Yongco was shot dead in her home. At that time, she served as private prosecutor in a parricide trial of former Dinagat mayor Ruben Ecleo, Jr.
At her grave in Benevola Memorial Garden in Consolacion, Cebu, Yongco’s family and friends paid tribute to her through prayers, flowers, and testimonies.
“God gave us Arbet. We used to think that her death was the will of terrible people and not of God. Little by little, we learned to accept that she is no longer with us. There should be a reason why she was shot. The killing underlined the purpose of her life. We will accept what God gave us so that we can move on and continue her legacy,” said Dolores Aliño, executive director of Legal Alternatives for Women (Law) Center, Inc.
Yongco was an active member of Law, Inc., which is offering a scholarship program in her name.
But her family is praying for “true justice” for the slain lawyer because they believe that is what she wants and what she deserves.
“We wanted not only for the gunman to be convicted but also the mastermind who pushed him or her to shot Arbet,” said one family member, who requested anonymity for security purposes.
Last August, two accused of Yongco’s murder case were cleared. Suspect Michel Favila Sr. will be facing the trial alone.
Learning from Yongco, husband lawyer Filemon urged the public to be vigilant and to continue her endeavors together because there is “strength in numbers.”
In an open letter, Yongco’s friends recalled the “sad” October day when a “monstrous act was committed by an enemy of justice, and in the long three years, the culprit was not brought to the court of justice, which (Yongco) had tried to improve.” (NRC)
