Around GMA

Article Inside Page

With people rallying behind Paco Larrañaga’s plea for justice, the Spanish-Filipino accused in the Chiong murder case expressed words of gratitude.

Paco’s message was posted on the Facebook account of Give Up Tomorrow, the documentary that chronicled the infamous case.

He wrote, “I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who have sent me messages of support, encouragement and prayers. Thank you for taking the time to learn about the human rights abuses and the facts of our case. This is very important to me because maybe by knowing what happened to us it will prevent more innocent people from falling through the cracks of the justice system. Thank you for being my voice when I cannot speak out in our fight for justice. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude. Reading your messages puts a smile in my heart.”

Paco also took the time to defend his six co-accused who he claimed are just as innocent as he is.

He continued, saying, “I am fortunate that Spain’s prison system is humane and rehabilitative and that they have allowed me to complete culinary school and to work, but not a day goes by that I do not think about James Andrew, James Anthony, Alberto, Ariel, Josman and Rowen and feel a pain in my soul because they do not deserve to be in Bilibid any more than I do. They are victims of injustice just like me. If you can, please hear their stories too.”

“I don’t have the words to properly describe this feeling of gratitude and friendship that I feel towards all of you who have reached out to me but please know that you have made this burden lighter to bear with your kindness and that I will keep you in my heart and in my prayers,” he added.

He ended his note with an invite to support their petition for the seven of them to be finally set free.