Family of slain Mabalacat teen says no burial until killer is arrested

PAMPANGA, Philippines – Margie Rivera left her family for the first time in March 2022 to work in Quatar as a domestic worker. But hopes of a better life for her four children were crushed on October 28 when daughter Majorie Joy Infante was found dead in their resettlement village in Barangay Atlu Bola in the city of Mabalacat here.

Marjorie, 15, was Margie’s youngest daughter, a Grade 10 student at Atlu Bola National High School. 

On the night she was killed, Marjorie had asked her father, Manuel, for some money to buy food treats as a reward for getting good grades, said a police report signed by acting Mabalacat police chief Lt. Col. Abraham Abayari.

Grief-stricken, Manuel said they would not lay their daughter to rest until cops find the suspect.

“Hanggat walang suspect, walang libing,” he told Rappler at Marjorie’s wake. (No burial until the suspect is not found.)

Manuel told Rappler his child was at home with him in their Northville 16 residence until around 6:30 pm when she mentioned about buying frozen food. 

The police said Manuel had asked Marjorie to wait for him while he washed his feet but discovered she had already left.

The father also told Rappler that he did not see his daughter leave the house. He later discovered she had also left her cellphone at home.

Antonieta Empanto Bernabe, a barangay security officer of neighboring Barangay Sapang Balen, stumbled on Marjorie’s body by the river side around 10 pm as she went to fetch a son of a co-worker in village. 

Bernabe reported the incident. Barangay officials then asked Manuel to identify his daughter.

Margie flew home on November 2 via the Clark International Airport.

Aid, reward

In the days after the killing, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) provided the family with aid.

Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo also offered a P100,000 cash reward to anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects. 

“[Ito ay] upang kaagad na makamit ang hustisya at sa pagkakalutas ng kaso,” Garbo said, instructing local police to exert all efforts to find the culprit. (This is to help get justice and solve the case immediately.)

OWWA chief Arnel Ignacio said OWWA-Region III Director Falconi Millar would represent the family as the lead counsel.

Millar said the agency would respect the family’s decision on the burial as the case is also under investigation. 

The OWWA regional chief said he had talked with the Mabalacat chief of police.

“Ipinakuha ko ‘yung mga documents sa kaniya. Nag-cooperate naman siya. Tutulungan namin sila hanggang matapos ang kaso,” he said. (I asked for documents on the investigation. They have been cooperative. We will help them until this case is solved.) 

“We’ll help with her (Margie’s) legal requirements. And, of course, we will coordinate with her employers in Qatar, because she has a good job there and we don’t want her to lose that. I told her not to decide on anything at this time of great emotion. But whatever moves she undertakes, we will be there for her,” OWWA Administrator Ignacio said in Filipino – Rappler.com