DIRECTOR Carlo J. Caparas is bringing to the silver screen the true-to-life story of the high-profile abduction, rape, and murder of sisters Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong in 1997 in Cebu.
“Jacqueline Comes Home,” the first Visayan movie depicting the ordeal of the Chiong sisters and their family members, will be shown in theaters nationwide in the coming months.
Cebuana actor Mary Athens Mahusay, who plays the role of Cherry Jimenea, Thelma younger’s sister, in the film, said that the movie script is based on the personal accounts of Thelma and case records.
Caparas and his daughter, Peach, are co-directing the film that is “almost done,” said Mahusay.
“We are now finalizing the editing of the scenes,” she said.
Kapuso star Meg Imperial plays Jacqueline in the movie, while Filipino YouTube sensation Donnalyn Bartolome portrays the character of Marijoy.
Actor-director Joel Torre portrays the role of Chiong sisters’ father, Dionisio.
The actress who plays the character of Thelma Chiong is yet to be announced.
Actors playing the parts of perpetrators of the crimes include Ryan Eigenmann and Caparas’ son, CJ.
The shooting of the film, reportedly done entirely in Cebu, began in April 2018 and the movie was supposed to be shown in theaters in July just in time for the Chiong sisters’ death anniversary.
But due to some unfinished scenes, Mahusay said, Caparas decided to move the showing of the film.
Caparas also wishes to dedicate the film in memory of his late wife, Donna Villa, who was known for producing real-life crime films such as “The Vizconde Massacre (God Help Us),” “The Annabelle Huggins Story – Ruben Ablaza Tragedy (Mea Culpa),” and “The Cecilia Masagca Story: Antipolo Massacre (Jesus Save Us!).”
“Director Caparas wants to finish the film as soon as possible,” said Mahusay, who used to work as a paralegal assistant of Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia.
“It was an unforgettable experience. I am very proud to be part of this movie,” said Mahusay, as she recalled the struggle she encountered in shooting the film along with veteran actors.
Jacqueline and Marijoy were 21 and 19, respectively, when they disappeared outside Ayala Center Cebu on July 16, 1997. The incident resulted in the most-publicized criminal case in recent Cebu history.
Two days later, the body of a young woman was found at the bottom of a ravine in Carcar City, which the Chiong family said was that of Marijoy.
On May 5, 1999, Cebu Regional Trial Court Judge Martin Ocampo convicted Juan Francisco “Paco” Larrañaga and his six co-accused of kidnapping and illegal detention.
Dubbed as the “Chiong Seven,” the six other convicts are Josman Aznar, whose family owns several properties in Cebu, including the Southwestern University and Sacred Heart Hospital; Rowen Adlawan; van driver Alberto Caño; van conductor Ariel Balansag; and brothers James Andrew and James Anthony Uy.
David Rusia, a co-accused who turned state witness, testified that Aznar and Adlawan were the ones who grabbed Jacqueline and Marijoy while the sisters were waiting for a ride home outside the mall.
Paco and the other accused allegedly dumped the bodies in a ravine. Judge Ocampo sentenced them to two life terms, instead of death.
The Supreme Court upheld the ruling of Judge Ocampo and imposed the death penalty on convicts Larrañaga, Aznar, Adlawan, Caño and Balansag on Feb. 3, 2004.
During his arrest, Larrañaga was 19 years old and taking up culinary arts in a school in Quezon City.
Now 41, Larrañaga is supposed to be jailed in Spain after the Department of Justice approved his transfer there to serve the remainder of his life sentence. (GMD)