MIGRANT WATCH

Family of Slain Filipina in Holland Calls for Justice

Veneranda “Bebe” Paña, who was 32 when she disappeared, was married to Edwin Terwinkle of Neunen, The Netherlands. After her disappearance, Terwinkle claimed variously that she had gone home to Cebu, she was undergoing medication in The Netherlands and was going home to her family soon. She was found dead after four years and her relatives, together with migrants’ groups, are calling for justice.

BY BULATLAT

The remains of a Filipina who was declared missing in The Netherlands on Jan. 19, 2001 and found dead under the living room of her brother-in-law’s home are set to arrive in her native Cebu province (central Philippines) on March 5.

Veneranda "Bebe" Paña in Holland Photo courtesy of Migrante International

Veneranda “Bebe” Paña, who was 32 years old when she disappeared, was married to Edwin Terwinkle of Neunen, The Netherlands. After her disappearance, Terwinkle claimed variously that she had gone home to Cebu and that she was undergoing medication in The Netherlands and was going home to her family soon. Last Jan. 19, the Dutch police found a body under the living room of the house of Elmer Terwinkle, Edwin’s twin brother. A subsequent DNA test established that the body belonged to Paña. Edwin and his brother Elmer were placed in police custody but according to reports, Elmer has been released recently.

Grace Punongbayan, Migrante Europe coordinator, said during a press conference in Quezon City on March 2 that another Filipino who was working as a nanny of Edwin Terwinkle’s child’s was also found dead in his home in March 2002. Thus, she said, “Edwin’s culpability in this murder is…extremely high.” 

“Beth,” who was 37 when she was hired by Edwin, was found dead in her room after only a few months of work. An autopsy report ruled out foul play and her body was subsequently cremated.

“Given reports that Edwin married another Filipina in 2003 and is now courting other Filipino women, it is important that he be exposed and convicted to prevent him from victimizing other Filipino women,” Punongbayan continued.

Injunction

Paña was almost cremated and buried in The Netherlands last Feb. 17 after the Dutch Justice Ministry released her remains to Edwin’s family. The burial was stopped at the last minute after a Dutch court issued an injunction that same day.

The Paña family, together with Filipino groups Stichting Silangan and Pinay sa Holland-GABRIELA, subsequently filed a civil court case demanding that her remains be repatriated to her family in Cebu. They won the case on March 1.

“While Bebe’s family already attained a small victory when they won a civil court case granting them custody of (her) body, the struggle for justice continues,” said Maita Santiago, Migrante International secretary-general. “We join the Paña family’s call for the immediate conviction of Edwin and all those responsible for Bebe’s death.”

Paña’s sister Anna Marie Enjambre and leaders from Migrante Europe and Migrante International went to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Dutch Embassy, and the House of Representatives on March 2 to call the attention of the authorities on the case. Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Rep. Crispin Beltran has filed a House resolution urging the Philippine government to assist in the criminal prosecution of the Terwinkle brothers. Bulatlat 

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