Bodies of 3 Filipina domestic workers killed by Greek Cypriot officer already found
A general view shows the Red Lake, a suspected dump site for a suspected serial killer, in Mitsero village, southwest of the capital Nicosia on April 26, 2019. – Cypriot authorities were combing lakes for the remains of three women and a girl, all Filipinos, dumped by a suspected serial killer, in a hunt for bodies that has shocked the island. (Photo by Iakovos Hatzistavrou / AFP)
(Eagle News) – Police continued its search for the bodies of the victims of a 35 year old Greek Cypriot officer, including that of a six year old Filpino girl who is the daughter of one of the three Filipina victims of the first serial killing in Cyprus that has shocked this Eastern Mediterranean island country.
Authorities are combing two lakes southwest of Nicosia where the suspect named by local media as Nicos Metaxas, a Cypriot National Guard captain, allegedly dumped the bodies.
The search for the six-year old Filipina girl, daughter of 38-year old Mary Rose Tiburcio, the first victim whose body was recovered two weeks ago, continues as the suspect had reportedly told police that the girl was also dead.
Mary Rose and her daughter were reported missing last May.
Since April 14 police have recovered three bodies, all believed to be Filipina domestic workers, in what local media has dubbed Cyprus’ “first serial killings”.
One of them was retrieved Thursday after the suspect showed investigators the spot where he had dumped a body in a well at an army firing range outside the capital.
The stepped-up search at the lakes — water-filled craters of former mines now normally used as picnic sites in the foothills of the Troodos mountains.
Police cordoned off the area and a sole diver entered Memi Lake in Xyliantos, descending into the emerald-green water.
“We are searching step-by-step,” fire department spokesman Andreas Kettis told Agence France Presse.
-Public outrage over killing of Filipinas, other foreign women in Cyprus-
Public outrage in Cyprus is growing. Hundreds gathered for a candle-lit vigil outside the presidential palace in Nicosia.
Filipinos were among those who participated in the rally expressing outrage at the series of brutal murders that appeared to have targeted foreign women in Cyprus.
Lissa Jataas from the Philippines, who heads a solidarity group for domestic workers in Cyprus, said the saga has been “devastating” for the entire Filipino community.
Ester Beatty, the head of the Federation of Filipino Organizations in Cyprus, said the community “was still coming to terms” with the “brutal” murders.
“Right now everyone is very scared,” she said, urging “vigilance” amongst the community.
Activist Maria Mappouridou, who put out the call for the protest yesterday on Facebook, said the deaths should serve as a wake-up call for usually quiet island.
“This is big. The women have been missing for years and no one has been asking where they’ve been,” the 43-year-old said.
Those who participated in the rally numbered to around 400. They included Cypriots and members of Filipino community in Cyprus.
They held placards calling for justice for the victims and held an extended moment of silence as they closed down the main road in front of the gates of the presidential palace.
The president of Cyprus, President Nicos Anastasiades, in a statement already condemned “these hideous crimes” against foreign women.
“Shocked by the revelation of so many shameful murders against innocent foreign women and young children,” the president said, expressing “deepest sorrow and strong concern”.
During the vigil, organizers used a loudspeaker to read a list of names of dozens of women believed to have gone missing in Cyprus since the 1990s.
“Where are they?” the crowd chorused after each name.
The others victims in the shocking series of murders also included a 36-year old Romanian mother and her eight-year old daughter who have been missing since September 2016.
(With a report from Agence France Presse)
