CEBU, Philippines - British national Robert Sharpe dreamt of living in Cebu for good in the company of a woman he married 10 years ago. He was too close to making that dream into a reality as he was supposed to come home two months from now to settle for good in Minglanilla town.
However, the supposed homecoming two months from now happened much earlier and grief displaces his excitement because of the unfortunate incident that stopped Sharpe’s dream from becoming a reality.
The woman he chose to be with for the rest of his life was murdered together with her 11-year-old daughter. Virginia, 37, and Mica Ella were found Thursday buried in a septic tank inside their house at Deca Homes in Barangay Tungkil, Minglanilla.
Three people were taken into police custody as suspects in the gruesome killing of the victims. The suspects, who are now detained at the Minglanilla Police Station while awaiting charges, were identified as Manuel Labrador, Espelito Ricamora, and George Baquiran, all of Lower Calajoan, Minglanilla.
Sharpe arrived yesterday morning and immediately went to the police station to inquire on the status of the case.
Chief Inspector Richard Gadingan, Minglanilla Police Station chief, said he briefed the husband on the status of the case and the arrest of the suspects.
Gadingan said that Sharpe plans to stay in their house in Minglanilla until the case is decided by the court. After seeing the police, the Briton proceeded to the wake of his wife and her daughter at the funeral parlor in Cebu City.
Gadingan said the remains were supposed to be cremated yesterday but the cremation was moved today to give more time to the husband to be with his wife for the last time.
After the cremation, the husband and the family of the victims agreed to bring the ashes to Zamboanga del Sur for interment.
Gadingan said Sharpe told them that he was scheduled to come home two months from now to settle here for good. However, the incident prompted Sharpe to come home early.
Sharpe’s scheduled arrival was the reason why Virginia had their house renovated. According to police investigation, one of the suspects was contracted by the victim to do the renovation.
One of the suspects has also borrowed money from the victim, which was eyed as motive in the killing. The police said Labrador was already pressured by Virginia to finish the renovation and to pay because her husband was coming.
Some of Virginia’s friends said she is very kind and too trusting. In fact, she gave the original keys to her house to one of the suspects, being the contractor. (FREEMAN)