Defense panel to call Osmeña to witness stand

CEBU CITY — The defense lawyers of the key suspect and his three alleged conspirators in the murder of Cebuano lawyer Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco, said it will present 16 witnesses, including Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Osmeña will only be asked to confirm his statement, quoted in media reports, that he offered a cash reward to anybody who could identify Yongco’s killer, the defense panel said.

The prosecutors, for their part, said they have lined up 11 witnesses during the trial set to start on April 14 in the sala of Regional Trial Court Judge Bienvenido Saniel.

The other day, key suspect Michel Favila and his three alleged conspirators, Eddie Ardita, Nestor Carrol and M/Sgt. Heracleo Rallestan, all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

As such, lead prosecution counsel Ramon Duyongco manifested that Ardita, Carrol and Rallestan be transferred to the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center here from the Lapu-Lapu City jail.

But defense lawyer Noel Archival opposed it, arguing that there was no need to do so since the Lapu-Lapu City jail is not congested compared to the BBRC.

The three men are also facing charges of illegal possession of firearms.

Favila was tagged as the one who allegedly went inside Yongco’s office on Sikatuna street here last Oct. 11 and shot her dead.

At least three witnesses identified Carrol as allegedly the one who drove the motorcycle that Favila used to flee the crime scene. Rallestan and Ardita allegedly served as lookouts and rode a separate motorcycle.

All four suspects are said to be members of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association which recognizes Ruben Ecleo Jr. as supreme master.

Ecleo is being tried for the 2002 killing of his wife, Alona Bacolod. He is out on bail. — Freeman News Service