Slain lawyer’s house now center for women

House of private prosecutor Yongco now home to LAW Inc., training center

Legal Alternatives for Women (LAW) Inc., which set up shop there in 2009, celebrates Ecleo’s conviction with thanksgiving prayer Second floor holds the office for lawyers, admin staff, a psychosocial room, a room for transients, while training center for women, youths is located downstairs

SLAIN lawyer Arbet Sta. Ana-yongco’s house at the corner of Alcohol and Sikatuna Sts. is now home to the Legal Alternatives for Women (LAW) Inc. and a training center.

The family store managed by her husband Filemon is still open for business, eight years after the death of the private prosecutor in the parricide case against Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) supreme master Ruben Ecleo Jr.

With Ecleo’s recent conviction, people close to Yongco’s heart rejoiced.

LAW Inc. administrative officer Josie Ilagan said their office celebrated with a thanksgiving prayer. PBMA member Michel Favila was indicted for the murder of Yongco, who actively pursued the case against Ecleo.

While Favila was sent to jail, he was never convicted of the crime as he died in 2009.

Transfer

That same year, LAW Inc. set up shop on the second floor of the Yongco house.

Filemon and his three children moved to Mabolo immediately after Yongco’s death. “They had to leave because of bad memories,” said Ilagan. Filemon and a housemaid were at the store when Yongco was shot to death. Filemon initially thought the gunshots were firecrackers.

The house was initially rented out to relatives. When they left in 2009, Filemon offered the house to LAW Inc., where Yongco was a pioneer member.

Ilagan showed Sun. Star Cebu around the two-story house.

The second floor is the office for the lawyers and administrative staff. It has a psychosocial room, a storage room and a room with a five-bed space for transients.

Aside from giving legal assistance, LAW Inc. also trains women and out-ofschool youths.

The youths have a computer training program held on the ground floor. It’s now called the Arbet Sta. Ana-yongco Training Hall.

Showroom

The front office is used as a showroom for the livelihood program for women. The showroom is where Yongco was shot on Oct. 11, 2004. It used to be her law office.

Ilagan showed the framed certificates of Yongco that LAW Inc. displays along with products of the livelihood training program like purses, necklaces, cards and bags.

Bullet holes serve as a reminder of the fateful day in 2004.

Yongco was shot four times in the cheeks and neck.

People were convinced that her death had something to do with her role in the Ecleo case.

Following her death was a promise made by then councilor and lawyer Gerardo Carillo that 100 lawyers will take Yongco’s place as private prosecutors in the Ecleo case.

However, the parricide case was decided last April 13 with only four private prosecutors standing in for Yongco, who took on the case pro bono. They were lawyers Democrito Barcenas, Kit Enriquez, Fritz Quiñanola and Alfredo Sipalay.