Mama vigilant in keeping killers in jail

Thelma Chiong, mother of Mary Joy and Jacqueline offer flowers and light candles at their tomb at the in Alliance of Two Hearts Parish, Cebu City. (CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)

Seventeem years have passed since her two daughters were kidnapped and murdered.

While Thelma Chiong is happy that justice was served, the 61-year-old mother  and anti-crime activisit said she continues checking  the status of the seven men who were convicted for the kidnapping, rape and murders of sisters Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong  to make sure they  remain in jail.

“I keep monitoring. Paco, for one, was telling his friend that he’s about to be released from prison in Spain. Excuse me, he was sentenced to double life imprisonment. He’s far from the finish line,” Thelma told CDN.

She was referring to Francisco “Paco” Larrañaga, who along with six companions were convicted of the crimes in 1999.

Thelma and her husband Dionisio visited the remains of Marijoy at the bone chamber of the Alliance of Two Hearts Parish in Cebu City yesterday.

Jacqueline’s body was never found. But her parents decided to put her name on the tomb after having accepted the fate of their daughter.

“I’m just happy that we’re able to get  justice for my daughters. The case is finished. And all the accused can’t do anything now but  answer for everything they did to my daughters,” Thelma said.

After losing her two daughters, Thelma joined the Crusade Against Violence which she now heads as  president of the Visayas chapter.

“God has a reason for everything. I may have lost my two daughters, but it paved the way for me to support victims of other heinous crimes,” she said.

Thelma and her husband offered yellow flowers and candles at the tomb of Marijoy yesterday.

On July 16, 1997,  Thelma’s daughters Marijoy and Jaqueline were reported missing. The victims were last seen outside the Ayala Center being forced into a vehicle that witnesses said was occupied by Francisco “Paco” Larrañaga and six others.

A body believed to be that of Marijoy’s was found two days later at the bottom of a ravine in Carcar City, southern Cebu. Jaqueline’s body was never found.

Larrañaga along with six companions were convicted of the crimes in 1999.

In 2004, the Supreme Court put on death row the convicts except James Andrew, a minor at the time of the crime, who was sentenced to  life  in prison.

On Easter Sunday in 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commuted the sentences to  life terms when she abolished capital punishment.

In 2009, Larrañaga, who also holds Spanish citizenship, was transferred to a jail in Spain by virtue of a treaty that allows a prisoner to be jailed in his homeland.

Related Stories:

Iconic band joins cause to lobby for release of Chiong Murder convict imprisoned in Spain