Yongco slay witness corrects statement

The fifth prosecution witness in the killing of lawyer Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco yesterday corrected a statement she made in her testimony the other day, saying she was "in a state of mental block" when she made her previous statement due to the "booming voice" of the defense lawyer.

While Eugena Teofilo, 32, earlier said that Michel Favila, the main suspect in Yongco's killing, was standing infront of a motorcycle outside Yongco's house the day she was killed, Teofilo amended her statement yesterday saying Favila was actually on the left side of the motorcycle.

When asked why she made the error, Teofilo said she was scared the other day as it was her first time on the witness stand. She also said that she was in a state of mental block because of the booming voice of defense lawyer Orlando Salatandre.

Teofilo made her amendment during yesterday's direct examination. She also identified Favila's companion as Nestor Carrol, one of the bodyguards of PBMA supreme leader Ruben Ecleo Jr.

Yongco, while still alive, prosecuted the parricide case against Ecleo for the death of his wife Alona.

Teofilo had said that she could not forget Favila because of his "piercing eyes". She said she passed by Favila and Carrol on her way to church and even made eye contact with Favila while the latter was on his cellphone and as Carol sat on the motorcycle.

It was while praying inside Victory Church in Sikatuna St. that she reportedly heard gunshots. She later identified Favila in some pictures shown to her by the police.