Angered by criticisms over singing, lawyer quits Yongco case

CEBU CITY — Stung by media criticisms on her "impromptu concert" with the defense lawyer and the prime suspect himself, lawyer Gloria Dalawampu quit as a private prosecutor in the case involving last week’s killing of fellow lawyer Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco.

Feeling her credibility was put into question, Dalawampu announced the other day that she was withdrawing her services as a lawyer representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in prosecuting the murder case against Michel Favila, the main suspect in the Yongco killing who is now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

"I am angry. I am getting out. I don’t need that case," said Dalawampu, fuming mad over the "unfair and malicious" commentaries she had heard on radio.

The criticisms concerned her impromptu singing with the murder suspect himself, his lawyer Orlando Salatandre, and Cebu City chief prosecutor Cezar Tajanlangit, after hours of legal debate on how Favila should be treated.

Surprised but cooperative reporters lent their microphones to the singing, which Salatandre had instigated. Pictures of the "impromptu concert" were splashed on the front pages of Cebu’s three local dailies.

Salatandre gamely obliged, grabbed a microphone from a TV reporter and started belting out the first lines of the song Bato sa Buhangin. Unable to resist the engaging song, Dalawampu joined in, with another TV crew’s microphone thrust into her hand.

Pretty soon, Tajanlangit joined in, and another microphone was handed over to him.

Eventually, even Favila forgot the mess he was in and joined the singing near the end of the song.

But while the reporters present took the incident good-naturedly, it did not sit well with radio commentators who saw the front page photos the following day.

Mockery of Yongco’s death?

Dalawampu was particularly incensed by insinuations that she, Salatandre and Tajanlangit made a mockery of Yongco’s death.

She said she joined the singing only to ease the tension brought about by the day-long legal arguments involving the issue of whether Favila should be considered under arrest or not.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has filed a complaint for murder against Favila in connection with Yongco’s gunslaying last Oct. 11.

A week after the murder, Favila turned himself in to the NBI in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, denying he had anything to do with the Yongco killing.

Nevertheless, Favila was flown to Cebu by NBI agents and later turned over to the custody of the CIDG. However, he had to be turned over back to the NBI because the CIDG could not place him under arrest without a warrant.

That was the bone of contention that ate up much of last Thursday among Salatandre, Dalawampu and Tajanlangit. Eventually, a compromise was reached; Favila signed a waiver and voluntarily submitted himself to the "protective" custody of the NBI.

It was after everyone had signed the compromise document that the singing ensued.

Dalawampu resented being pilloried for what she felt was a natural human reaction to stress.

Diffusing the tension

" What is wrong? In order to have some light moments to diffuse the tension, you sing. What do you want me to do, kill my enemies? We are just lawyers," she said.

But while Dalawampu has apparently made up her mind to quit the case, Salatandre is urging her to stay on, saying there was nothing malicious about lawyers from opposing sides joining in a song after a long and heated debate.

The third member of the impromptu quartet, Tajanlangit, also said the singing was only meant to ease tension.

Favila belongs to the Surigao del Norte-based religious sect Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), whose members regard Ruben Ecleo Jr. as their supreme master.

At the time she was killed, Yongco was the private prosecutor in the parricide case Ecleo is facing in connection with the murder of his wife, Alona Bacolod.

Salatandre, Favila’s lawyer, is also the legal counsel of Ecleo.

Meanwhile, Favila admitted that he lied when he said he was in a fiesta coronation on the day Yongco was murdered.

Earlier, Favila claimed he was at the town fiesta of Cagayancillo, his island-hometown in Palawan. But Cagayancillo Mayor Joel Casellier said the town fiesta was held last Sept. 9-10. — Freeman News Service