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'You deserve this': Murder victim's kin happy with suspect's arrest

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Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jRvwCs1cfh4?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>The family of slain Filipina Rebeny Vergara is thankful that the suspect in her murder will finally face charges against him after 16 long years.Ezra Dave Maling is accused of strangling to death Vergara, his live-in partner, in March 2003 in Cainta, Rizal.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/21/19/pinoy-murder-suspect-deported-to-ph">Pinoy murder suspect deported to PH</a></li></ul>Vergara&#x27;s ex-husband Ganthel said he could not believe when he found out about Maling&#x27;s deportation from the United States back to the Philippines. “To be honest, I was hopeless in certain times,&quot; he said. Maling fled to the US and lived a double life in the San Francisco Bay Area and worked as musical director for the Bay International Church after the murder.He bragged about his music compositions in the Philippines and curious church members who looked for his achievements online instead chanced upon news articles revealing his dark past. Authorities in the US and the Philippines were informed but it was only on May 15 this year that Maling was finally deported from Los Angeles to the Philippines. After Philippine authorities informed him of the nature of his arrest, Maling&#x27;s response shocked them. “The accused asked a copy of alias warrant of arrest and read it and told the operatives, &#x27;Ang tagal na nito. Hindi ba ito nage-expire?&quot; Police Col. William Segun said.But the warrant of arrest was valid and Maling is now detained at a police facility in Cainta.“Since the accused was arrested, the case will be set for trial,” added Segun. Ganthel is grateful to Maling&#x27;s former church members, to US immigration authorities and to the Philippine National Police, particularly in Cainta, Rizal, for tracking down Maling and keeping at it no matter the challenges.However, he doesn&#x27;t feel he has received closure just yet. “Closure po siguro kung talagang makulong siya, ma-convict siya either life imprisonment or death penalty,” he said.His daughter with Vergara, Lexy, feels that nothing could really bring them justice. “Nothing really. You can&#x27;t take back the life that you took,” she said.Their message to the man accused of taking Vergara&#x27;s life: “You deserve this. After 16 long years na pagtatago mo, pagkukunwari mo, you deserve this.&quot;Ganthel and Lexy also want those who hid Maling from authorities to be charged in court for harboring a criminal. <div>Read more on <a href="https://balitangamerica.tv/">Balitang America:</a></div>

The family of slain Filipina Rebeny Vergara is thankful that the suspect in her murder will finally face charges against him after 16 long years.

The family of slain Filipina Rebeny Vergara is thankful that the suspect in her murder will finally face charges against him after 16 long years.

'You deserve this': Murder victim's kin happy with suspect's arrest

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'You deserve this': Murder victim's kin happy with suspect's arrest

Henni Espinosa,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 01, 2019 03:36 PM PHT

Read More:

Rebeny Vergara

Ezra Dave Maling

murder

Balitang America

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