‘God is still the best judge,’ Zayco family on 1 yr anniv of massacre
Surviving family of massacre victims Francisco “Bobby” Tan, wife Cindy Zayco and 6 year-old daughter Katherine marked the first death anniversary of the trio in a special mass, special prayers for the dead and special novena offered in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
With no arrests made as of yet and continuing legal battle involving the principal suspects, Bobby’s two sons from a former girlfriend, a press statement was issued by the Zayco-Tan children and maternal relatives.
“We sadly miss them,” the children were quoted alongside the expressed message of Rosalinda Zayco, mother of Cindy saying everyone prayed that “something good will come for us.”
“Enrique Rafael, Kristine, Katrina, Karen, and Kathleen, surviving children of the late spouses Francisco "Bobby" Tan and Cynthia Marie "Cindy" Zayco-Tan and beloved brother and sisters of the late Katherine, together with their grandmother Rosalinda Garcia-Zayco and the rest of the family of Cindy commemorated quietly the first death anniversary of their dearly departed yesterday in Kabankalan City by way of a special mass. They also prayed the Rosary and said the novena for the dead,” the press statement sent to The News Today (TNT) went. “The children and the Zayco family recognize January 8 as the date of death of the three because they believe "that is the real date when they were killed." Although the children were provided keys to the family mausoleum, there are no plans for their visit in Iloilo City in the near future.”
The bodies of the victims were discovered early morning of January 9th in what stands to be the most controversial and celebrated slaughter of a prominent family in Iloilo. Cindy bore the most stab wounds numbering to about 15.
The statement issued through counsel, lawyer Cornelio Panes went to disclose latest legal maneuverings in Court.
“Enrique Rafael is no longer a minor as he turned 18 last December 10. He joined his grandmother Rosalinda in opposing the petition for review of the resolution of indictment for the gruesome deaths by his two half-brothers before the Department of Justice. He still have to decide on what position to take in the intestate estate proceeding filed by his half-brother Archie now that he is no longer a minor.
The Family Court in Iloilo finally dismissed the petition filed by their grandaunt for habeas corpus and issuance of letters of guardianship over the Zayco-Tan minor children in an order dated August 23, 2006 after the court denied the motion for reconsideration filed. The Kabankalan Family Court gave Rosalinda the custody and guardianship over the minor children,” it continued. “With regard to the criminal cases against their two half-brothers and the legal maneuvering occurring in the trial court, the sentiments of the children and the Zaycos on this can be summed up in the following words of C.S. Lewis: "A law is tangible in the sense that it is recorded somewhere on a piece of paper, but it exists only to the extent it causes men to do or not to do certain things. Its real force is beyond the reach of that which we see or touch, made real by the extent people accept and believe."
In conclusion, the family wrote, “God is still the best judge,” as they went on to thank those who continued to help them pray and pursue justice "especially those who relentlessly labored to make justice a living monument of God’s love in an evil world."
Suspects Archie and Jan Michael were tagged by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the vicious killings that have now ripped the Zayco-Tan families.
Tan family matriarch, businesswomen Conchita Tan has since provided legal defense to his grandsons as questions were asked anew on the whereabouts of the two alleged culprits.