The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the embassy in Belgium cited newspaper reports that Florentina de la Cruz was shot to death by her ex-husband, Frank Duran, a former military man.
De la Cruz’s relatives said they were contacted and informed of her death by a certain Amy Heymmen, a Filipina who became a naturalized Belgian citizen. They said Heymmen told them De la Cruz had been murdered by Duran.
Heymmen told them De la Cruz was fetched at the airport by Duran, who then shot her when they were inside Duran’s car, they said.
The victim’s relatives have brought the case to the attention of the DFA and asked the embassy for confirmation of the report.
They also said they believed Dela Cruz had already parted ways with Duran in 1997. She also returned to the Philippines that year with the couple’s two children.
Dela Cruz’s kin said they were not told of the purpose for the victim’s return to Belgium. They also suspect Heymmen may have been involved in her murder.
They said Heymmen seemed to be avoiding them, since they could no longer reach her, despite repeated long-distance calls.
The embassy’s latest report contained no other details of the murder, but DFA officials assured that they are working to get more information on the case. — Pia Lee-Brago