Charice Pempengco's father laid to rest as fans express sympathies

Saturday, November 5, 2011

CABUYAO, LAGUNA (2nd update 6:25 p.m.) —The father of international singing sensation Charice was laid to rest in Laguna on a rainy Saturday afternoon, five days after he was stabbed to death by an inebriated construction worker.

Remains of Ricky Pempengo, 43, were interred past 4 p.m. at the Pasture of Heaven Memorial Park in this town, as the singer’s relatives and supporters arrived to express their condolences to Charice and her family.

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Fans and onlookers converged on the four-hectare cemetery as early as 11 a.m. Saturday, with some braving the intermittent rains just to get a glimpse of the 18-year-old singer.

Laguna Governor ER Ejercito and Cabuyao's local government officials also attended the funeral to express their sympathies. Requests for media interviews were not granted.

With mother Racquel and brother Carl, Charice, who wore a black hat and white dress, paid her last respects to her father, who died last October 31.

During the funeral, Charice's pre-recorded rendition of her favorite songs "Endless Love" and "Angel" were repeatedly played, bringing the whole family to tears.

“It’s as if we lost a loved one too. I hope that Charice can withstand this challenge and she doesn’t deserve this suffering,” 14-year-old Jovelyn Mahusay, junior high school student at Cabuyao National High School, told Sun.Star.

At least 10 village watchmen from Barangay Sala were tasked to secure the funeral premises. This excluded police reinforcements, according to village chairman Amelito Alimagno.

"This is our little way of expressing our condolences to the family of Charice, who used to live in Cabuyao. She even got trophies in different singing contests here years back," he told Sun.Star.

Murder charges have already been slapped against assailant Angel Capili, who surrendered to authorities last Thursday.

The 35-year-old Capili had told the Philippine National Police (PNP) that he was drunk when he stabbed Pempengco with an ice pick in Laram village in San Pedro, Laguna.

Capili, however, said that he acted in self-defense, which the Pempengco family found unacceptable. He is currently detained at the San Pedro municipal police quarters.

“I want him to be locked up in jail for life. I want justice for my dad,” Charice said in an earlier interview.

Pempengco died of stab wounds in the chest and the back, forcing Charice to call off overseas concerts this week. (Sunnex)