Marieta Ocanada, (right) mother of slain lawyer Amelie Alegre with her relatives and friends talk to Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes (left) and Briccio Boholst (in sunglasses) during the funeral procession. Mourners wore T-shirts calling for “Justice for Atty. Amelie”.
(CDN Photo/Junjie Mendoza)
With several live chicks chirping near her coffin, the family, relatives and close friends of slain lawyer Amelie Alegre bid an emotional farewell at her funeral.
Amelie’s mother Marieta Ocañada pleaded with Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes to help seek justice
“Mayor, tabangi ko (Mayor, please help me),” she said.
Cortes, who was present, quietly nodded.
The family placed live chicks in a carton above Alegre’s coffin in keeping with a traditional Filipino belief that the chirping would bother the conscience of those responsible for her violent death.
Marieta Alegre and the mourners wore white shirts with the words “Justice for Atty. Amelie” written on them.
Cremated
The 37-year-old lawyer was killed in a car ambush on Catalino Ouano Avenue in barangay Looc, Mandaue City last Aug. 13.
“Grabe ang ilang gibuhat sa akong anak. Kon kinsa man ang mastermind sa krimen, hinaut pa unta dili siya makatulog (What they did to my daughter was too much. I hope the mastermind won’t be able to sleep),” Marieta said.
A Requiem Mass was held at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City at 7:30 a.m.
Alegre’s remains were cremated and her ashes were placed in an urn and brought to St. Joseph Parish’s columbarium in Mabolo, Cebu City.
Hostile relationship
Still limping from a gunshot wound in his leg, Briccio Joseph Boholst attended the funeral of his law office partner along colleagues Georgia Herrera and Dwight Remedio.
Alegre was supposed to drop Boholst at his home in barangay Looc, Mandaue City last Aug. 13 when two men on board a motorcycle fired at the BMW sedan she was driving.
Alegre died on the spot while Boholst and their office accountant Antonio Pido were wounded.
Alegre’s husband Ryan and her in-laws were not present during the funeral service.
Strained relations between Ryan and Amelie, whose marriage was undergoing annulment proceedings in court, are one of the angles being looked into by police investigators, after learning that the woman had been receiving death threats.
Separate investigations are in progress by the Mandaue City Police Office and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Bereavement
The elder Alegre said was painful to lose her only child.
She said she was surprised to know that a number of religious sisters grieved as well.
“She was well-loved by the sisters. I just learned that she helped a number of charitable institutions,” she said.
Marieta thanked their relatives as well as her daughter’s friends for standing by them during their bereavement.
Forgive
“Please pray for us. Am-am loves all of you. She will not forget you you,” she said.
Before Alegre’s body was cremated, Marieta approached Amelie’s coffin and addressed her daughter.
“Anak (child), I love you very much,” said Marieta while sobbing.
Fr. Ruel Gado, SVD, who presided over the Requiem Mass, encouraged the family to find peace and consolation in God.
“Do not simply give up just because of this cross in life. Let go and let God,” he said.
Gado also reminded the grieving family and friends to learn to forgive.
“It’s really difficult. But that’s what Christianity is about. We love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Forgiveness does not mean we forget about justice. As we forgive, justice should also be rendered,” the priest said.