‘Emie’ finally goes home

Many people, including acting governor Eloy S. Inos, paid their last respects to slain bartender Emerita ‘Emie’ Relata Romero at a Mass and public viewing yesterday afternoon at the Kristo Rai Church.

Romero’s remains will be flown to the Philippines today, Saturday, at 6am, aboard a Delta Air Lines flight via Japan. It is expected to arrive in Manila at 10:30pm. Romero’s siblings, Eduardo Relata and Estrellita “Lhet” Relata, will accompany the body.

“What happened to my sister, Emie, was really tragic and heartbreaking for all of us who loved and cared for her. We are still hopeful and praying that justice will prevail,” Eduardo Relata read a statement during the Mass.

He thanked everyone who supported and sympathized with their family in their time of grief.

“Emie, please don’t worry. We will take care of your daughters. Thank you for loving us and supporting us in every way you can,” said Eduardo Relata, tears sliding down his cheeks.

During the public viewing after the Mass, acting governor Inos approached Romero’s sealed casket and expressed his condolences to the Relatas.

Inos told the media that Romero’s killing is a “very unfortunate and tragic” incident.

“It’s a sad day to the family, and to the many friends and relatives and acquaintances here in the Commonwealth,” Inos said.

He vowed that the Fitial administration will do its best to bring Romero’s killer to justice. He said that Police Commissioner Ramon Mafnas and his team are working hard to solve this case.

“On behalf of our administration, I extend our condolences to the family,” Inos said.

Fr. Noynoy Recaido, who officiated the Mass, urged people to unite as one family and one community in seeking justice for “our sister Emie.”

“The pain that we have will remain if each and everyone of us will not help each other to find justice and to look for the real truth,” Recaido said.

Philippine Consul General Medardo Macaraig, who attended the Mass, told Saipan Tribune that they are urging federal and local authorities to do everything they can to arrest the killer.

Pastor Manuelito Rey said it is sad that this thing happened to such a small island but believes it is a wake up call for the entire community to be more vigilant. “To the community, it is important that we exercise justice for everyone.”

Ron E. Biggers and Scott Dottino, owners of Godfather’s Bar where Romero worked as a bartender, attended the Mass together with the bar’s staff, relatives, and friends.

After the public viewing ended at 2pm, the remains were taken to a funeral parlor, which will bring the body to the airport today, at 4am.

Romero was last seen alive boarding a green or blue tinted sedan around 3am on Feb. 5 in Garapan. FBI agents found her body two days later in the northernmost building of the former La Fiesta Mall in San Roque.