US Ambassador Seeks Probe on Yongco's Death

SOUTHEAST ASIA

US Ambassador seeks probe on Yongco's death

Sunstar.com

US Ambassador seeks probe on Yongco's death

Concerned about its effects on efforts to curb human trafficking, US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone Jr. will request the Department of Justice (DOJ) to look into the killing of women and child's rights advocate Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco.
Ricciardone, who was out of the country at the time of Yongco's death, learned about the attack in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu last Friday.
He expressed concern over the effects of the murder on efforts to stop the trafficking in persons, especially of Filipino women and children.
"People would be frightened, or worse, terrorized and this can lead to more victims," he told Sun.Star.
Justice, please
He said they will appeal to the DOJ to bring justice to the family of Yongco, who used to be project coordinator of the Central Visayas Forum on Trafficking in Persons.
Thelma Chiong, of the Crusade Against Violence, is thankful for Ambassador Ricciardone's pledge.
She lamented that the scheduled arraignment of murder suspect Michel Favila Sr. last Friday was postponed, because his Manila-based lawyers did not show up in court. Favila, an officer of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA), will be arraigned on Jan. 27 instead.
Hearings on the parricide case against PBMA leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. will also resume on that day.
Three other members of the PBMA, who were arrested carrying a stash of high-powered guns and Swat police vests in Lapu-Lapu City, have since been impleaded in the Yongco murder case as well.
Yongco was one of the private prosecutors of the parricide case against Ecleo. "Nakatutok gyud mi sa kaso pero ang amo unta nga madali-dali gamay (We are closely following the case. We are only after a quick resolution to it)," Chiong said.
Chiong was among the women leaders who brought up Yongco's case to President Arroyo in October last year.
Ricciardone said he hopes advocates against human trafficking won't be disheartened by the attack on Yongco.
20,000 people
The Philippines is one of the countries badly hit by the problem, with about 20,000 people trafficked annually to the US either for prostitution or slavery.
The US Government is extending grants to the Philippines to solve the problem.
Ricciardone said that since nongovernment organizations have set up a good network throughout the country, they would want to focus on ensuring the prosecution of cases.
They want to fund the training of prosecutors and lawyers handling cases of human trafficking, noting that the groups involved in these crimes can afford good lawyers.
Ricciardone is also glad that the Japanese Government's stricter visa requirements for entertainers has raised awareness on trafficking, which has escalated as borders have fallen worldwide.