NBI agent: It's not Favila that Yongco's helpers identified

An agent of the National Bureau of Investigation testified yesterday that the two female helpers of the slain lawyer, Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco, did not point to Michel Favila as the gunman.

Arnel Pura, who the defense presented in court at the resumption of the trial of the case, said the two helpers, Marifel Abadilla and Baby Jane Lage, were at the scene at the time of the killing.

The two had identified another person they saw walking with a gun out of Yongco's office on October 11, 2004 when the lawyer was killed, Pura alleged.

Pura said that in the afternoon of the day of the killing, Abadilla went to the NBI to help in sketching the identification of the gunman that she allegedly saw. Abadilla allegedly described the gunman as 5'9" tall, mustachioed, and wearing a long-sleeved white shirt.

The finished sketch of the gunman's identity was then sent to various NBI offices in the country. Later on, the NBI office in Iligan City sent back a photograph of a man that resembled the sketch, as supposedly described by Abadilla.

Pura said the man in the photo was not Favila, and neither of the other two co-accused Nestor Carrol and Heracleo Rellastan.

It was identified as a certain Bobby Gamana who had a pending arrest warrant for murder in Lanao del Sur and another for attempted homicide in Palawan, said Pura.

Four days after the two helpers identified Gamana as the man they saw at their employer's office at the time of the killing, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines got them out from NBI custody.

Pura alleged that the IBP did not even allow NBI men from attending the meeting it held with the two helpers.

What followed then was the two helpers recanted their earlier statements at the NBI that pointed at Gamana as the gunman, said Pura. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group later on arrested Favila, reportedly on the basis of identification done by another witness.

Yongco was the private prosecutor in the parricide case against Ruben Ecleo Jr., supreme master of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, of which Favila has been a member.

The other week, Favila's right foot was amputated due to diabetic ulcer. He failed to attend yesterday's hearing because of health reasons. - Joeberth M. Ocao/RAE