Robert Sharpe looks at the framed photo of his wife Virginia and daughter Mica Ella on a glass table in the living room. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
British national Robert Sharpe wasn’t due to visit Cebu until next month, when he would see for himself the renovations on their house in Minglanilla town, southern Cebu that his wife Virginia bought last December.
“I have never been in the house. It is my first time to be here. It was all her work on the renovations. She sent me pictures and updates about the house on Facebook,” he said.
Now the house feels empty and eerie for 58-year-old Sharpe, whose Cebuana wife Virginia and 11-year-old daughter Mica Ella were found buried in the septic tank under the newly cemented kitchen floor.
A few roses have been placed atop the floor.
The remains of Virginia and Mica Ella were recovered from the septic tank by police last Aug. 20.
He shows Cebu Daily News the house his wife bought in Minglanilla including the kitchen where her remains and that of their daughter’were found buried under the floor, victims of violence by hired laborers renovating the house. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Last rites
The two died of blows to their heads.
Police arrested and filed double-murder and robbery charges against laborers Manuel Labrador, Estelito Ricamora and George Baquiran.
The motive of the attack was initially traced to a P25,000 cash advance that Labrador was being pressed to pay by the housewife.
Walking past the kitchen, Sharpe said he and some of his wife’s relatives are staying in the house to await the final interment of his wife and daughter.
After the cremation, the family plans to bring their ashes to Virginia’s hometown in Zamboanga province.
Sharpe showed Cebu Daily News around the house including the kitchen where the ceramic urn containing the ashes of his wife and daughter were placed on a glass table. Candles and framed photographs of the slain mother and child surrounded the urn.
All gone
Sharpe had been in London since April last year to see to his duties as executor of his father’s estate after his father’s death at the age of 98.
It was in December last year when his wife told him about buying a house in Minglanilla.
“Now I’m here and it’s all gone. I can barely keep this together,” Sharpe said as he fought back tears.
READ: Woman, daughter found dead inside septic tank at Minglanilla home
Sharpe said the pain was eased somewhat by relatives of his wife who came to help and provide support.
He said they had been married for 10 years. He met Virginia two years before they decided to tie the knot.
Robert rented a room in an apartelle which his wife also stayed in.
“We used to live in a small house near Talisay City Hall. It was just made of light materials and we had some problems since we don’t own the land. It was Virginia who decided to purchase a house in Minglanilla,” Sharpe said.
Sharpe said he learned of his wife and child’s tragic end through a social media post in his Facebook account.
His sister woke him up early in the morning to check if the post was true.
“At the time I told myself it can’t be true. This might be some bad joke. I never believed it until I called the Minglanilla police and the Embassy and they confirmed the identities. I tried talking to the relatives but they were all distraught and could not really tell me what happened in detail. I immediately booked a flight to the Philippines,” he said.
Sharpe said he hopes that justice is served for Virginia and Mica Ella’s deaths.
He said he found it hard to believe that anyone could kill a mother and little girl.
“Maybe (the killers) were high on drugs. It is difficult to be able to think that anybody can do that to a child. She (Mica Ella) was a very happy girl, and just like that my daughter is gone. It will be just me now,” he said.
Robert said he would wait for a month to see the case elevated to court before he leaves for England to oversee his family’s property.
READ: Three laborers charged for Minglanilla murders
“Somebody here has to attend the hearings. I want them jailed for a long time, also for the sake of the witnesses. Child murderers can’t go free. And yes, someone has to pay for the lawyer,” he said.
Sharpe, who considered retiring in Cebu, said it would be too painful now that his wife and daughter are gone.
While he isn’t planning to sell the house, Sharpe said he will have it padlocked as soon as his wife’s relatives head back to Zamboanga province.