MANILA, Philippines — The remains of a Filipino student abducted and murdered in Ireland arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday night.
The body of 24-year-old Jastine Valdez arrived at Clark International Airport in Pampanga and was accompanied by her parents and by Philippine Honorary Consul in Dublin Mark Congdon.
Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs' Office of Migrant Workers and the Clark International Airport Corporation met the victim's parents Teresita and Danilo at around 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday.
Aviation security officers transferred Valdez' casket to a private van going to her hometown in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya where she will be laid to rest.
Congdon conveyed the gratitude of the Valdez family to the Philippine government for the assistance in repatriating the remains of the Filipina student, the DFA said.
On May 19, a local man abducted Valdez near Dublin while she was walking home. Her body was found on May 21.
The Philippine Embassy in London reported that Valdez just left her home in Wicklow County when she was kidnapped. Witnesses saw her being dragged into a black Nissan car.
The suspect, identified as Mark Hennessy, was shot dead a day after the victim was abducted after allegedly trying to stab a police officer arresting him. — Patricia Lourdes Viray