A Small Glimpse of Juan Francisco "Paco" Larrañaga's Life in Spain

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Just hearing Juan Francisco "Paco" Larrañaga was actually innocent is something. It made me think that more than 20 years ago--a crime happened and he was wrongfully linked to it. I dismiss gossip of the Chiong sisters, Jacqueline Jimenea Chiong and Marijoy Jimenea Chiong, being alive. However, that doesn't change the fact that Paco was indeed in Manila on July 16, 1997. There were school records, photographs, and every piece of evidence that the stupid late Judge Martin Ocampo dismissed saying, "It must've been tampered with." It was a trial by publicity no doubt. 

I wrote a really lengthy review of Give Up Tomorrow. I couldn't help but watch the fascinating documentary more than once. Every step of the way, I didn't need to be a lawyer to understand that a judge who doesn't follow the fair rules of the trial is a bad judge. Footage of Ocampo sleeping in court was present. The whole trial was nothing more than a spectacle. Because of a stupid judge, much of Paco's life was wasted. Eventually, in 2009, Paco was shipped to Spain after he was spared from death row. 

Although Paco is still a prisoner, the Cebu Daily News (which I believe erroneously said the Chiongs had three sons and two daughters instead of the opposite) gives this information last 2019:
Six years after being transferred from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City to a Spanish prison, Francisco “Paco” Osmeña Larrañaga is working part-time as a chef.

“He is employed and he is earning…I’m happy and proud that he has reached his dream of being a chef,” said Paco’s mother Margarita at the sidelines of yesterday’s celebration of the 137th birth anniversary of former president Sergio Osmeña Sr.

Margarita is a grandaughter of Sergio.

Paco was 27 years old when he and six others were convicted in Cebu for the 1997 abduction, rape and murder of sisters Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong in 2004.

The 37-year-old Larrañaga, who is half-Spanish, now works at a Spanish restaurant near his apartment in San Sebastian, Spain from Mondays to Thursdays.

His mother said Paco is allowed to leave his cell without a security escort and head to work at the restaurant. He then returns at night to his cell.

Once again, take note that while Paco is indeed a scion of the Osmeña clan, that's his maternal grandmother's maiden surname and his real middle name is Gonzales. Although he has no liberty, he's still doing better than his co-falsely accused. he's still able to have some degree of liberty even if he's a prisoner. Hopefully, the Spanish government will pardon him based on real evidence that was denied. 

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