Cebu-based lawyers to help family of Tuadles in Manila From: Sun.Star News Service/AFP/PNA reports

[Clyde Adkins]

From: Sun.Star News Service/AFP/PNA reports
http://www.gsilink.com/~sunstar/ or
http://www.sunstar.com.ph
E-Mail Address: sun...@gsilink.com
Reprinted by permission

Cebu-based lawyers to help family of Tuadles
in Manila

CEBU - A group of Cebu-based lawyers will go to Manila to
assist the Tuadles family in the case against Alberto
"Ambet" Antonio.

The sending of the group is on the initiative of Jose
"Dodong" Gullas, executive vice president of the University
of the Visayas (UV), Fred Tuadles said.

He added that Rep. Ramon Durano III has also promised
support to the family of slain professional cager Arnulfo
"Arnie" Tuadles who was laid to rest in Danao city
yesterday.

Fred Tuadles, older brother of Arnie, said Durano will stay
with the Tuadles family in Manila for a week. Durano (Cebu,
5th district) visited Tuadles' wake in his hometown in Danao
city Saturday night.

The preliminary hearing for the Tuadles case is scheduled to
start today in Manila. Whether charges of homicide or murder
will be filed against Antonio, confessed killer of Tuadles,
will be known tomorrow.

Antonio, former chairman of the Games and Amusement Board
(GAB), admitted that he accidentally shot Tuadles during a
gambling session in an exclusive clubhouse in San Juan last
Nov. 2. Tuadles, whose body was found 12 hours later, died
of a gunshot wound between the eyes.

PROOF

On Antonio's plea of homicide, Fred said it is difficult to
prove the former's claim of "accidental" shooting because he
left the body for hours and did not even call for an
ambulance.

He added that they have yet to check reports that the
evidence found on the crime scene were allegedly burned.

Scores of sympathizers flocked to the Danao Parish Church
and the public cemetery in Barangay Taytay and lined up for
nearly an hour to pay their final respects to Tuadles.

Candle vendor Anastacia Gonzales, 56, likened Tuadles'
burial to a "second" observance of All Souls Day. She failed
to get a last glimpse on the slain basketball star because
she said she was too old to elbow her way through the huge
crowd.

Among those who did was Dioleto Loro, 36, Tuadles' neighbor,
who could not resist a last look.

GRATITUDE

Suzette Tuadles, Arnie's widow, expressed her gratitude to
the Cebuanos and the media for their support.

"Nagpasalamat mi nga nakita ninyo ang kamaayo sa
kasing-kasing niya (Arnie)...Kusgan pa ko, bata pa ko. Akong
ipadayon ang trabaho ni Arnie," Suzette said after the
requiem mass.

But the Tuadles family is still not certain whether they
would continue Arnie's project - a basketball training
center in Cebu. They said that their primary concern is to
prepare themselves for the coming trial.

Others who delivered speeches were Tuadles' sons Arnold
Roan, Rich Arnold and Arnold Jairo as well as Conrado
Batoon, Tuadles' uncle and former Danao city vice mayor.

Also present Sunday was Arnie's child whom he sired while he
was still a bachelor and who used to be a member of the
University of the Visayas Baby Green Lancers team.

Eufemio Capoy, Tuadles' uncle, recalled that Arnie told him
early this year he would enjoy attention in the national
press again. Capoy said he had no inkling that this would be
due to his death. Pinky Amores