Orate laid to rest as family vows to fight on for justice

Noel Orate Sr., slain former lover of ex-congresswoman Nanette Castelo-Daza, is laid to rest at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012. Shown mourning are his children (from left) Noelleen, Noel Rose and eldest son Noel Orate Jr. Orate's self-confessed killer, Bulacan provincial board member Allan Robes, invoked self- defense. INQUIRER PHOTO/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines—The remains of Noel Orate Sr., the former lover of ex-Quezon City Representative Nanette Castelo-Daza, were laid to rest Sunday even as his children vowed to seek justice for his death.

“We will fight for you,” Orate’s son Noel Jr. shouted during the burial rites held shortly before noon at Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City. At least one dozen vehicles joined the funeral procession from Arlington Memorial Chapel—where a Mass was held—up to the cemetery.

At one point, the convoy stopped in front of Daza’s house on Maningning Street in Teacher’s Village, Quezon City, where the victim was shot dead by Bulacan provincial board member Allan Robes, Daza’s son-in-law.

Orate’s family, their relatives and some of their friends alighted from vehicles and shook the gate of Daza’s house. After a while, they dropped some flowers in front of the house, got back into their vehicles and went on with the procession.

Most of the mourners were clad in black-and-white T-shirts that bore the message, “Justice for Noel.” Members of the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption also attended the funeral.

In previous interviews, Noel Jr. said they would press for a reinvestigation, stressing that Robes should be charged with murder, not homicide. Robes, however, claimed that he shot Orate in self-defense.