THE remains of the 30-year-old working student, who was stabbed and sexually abused, was buried Wednesday, March 15, in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.
Some 100 family, friends, classmates and strangers attended the burial of Cherrymae Dayo in a small plot in San Juan village, Balingasag.
Dayo, a third year student of Southern Philippines College, was repeatedly stabbed and raped Friday evening, March 10, inside the house she was looking after.
“The knowledge of her death, what happened, more than her death was the heaviest to carry in her burial. All we want now is that justice might be served to the death of Inday [Cherrymae],” Paulita Roa, a relative of the Balinado family who owns the house where Dayo served as caretaker.
She said some members of Dayo's family in Balingasag, friends, and acquaintances still could not accept what happened as she was known to be a kind-hearted daughter and sister, always willing to help her family.
Roa said Dayo’s tragic death has prompted some people to condole with the family and offer financial help.
The fundraiser initiated by Roberto Balinado at GoFundMe, a personal fundraising website, has now reached $2,500 after four days.
Balinado, the eldest son of the late Mending Balinado for whom Dayo worked as a caretaker, aims to raise $20,000 to give to Cherrymae’s family.
Roa said part of the funds will also be used to pay for the legal services in the pursuit of justice.
A scholarship has already been granted to Dayo's four siblings by the Southern Philippines College.
The Cagayan de Oro City Prosecutor's Office charged all five suspects in the killing of Dayo with robbery with homicide aggravated by rape.
The suspects are now detained in the City Jail in Lumbia village.