Darren Espanto mourns passing of former road manager

“I love you so much and I’ll keep you close to me heart always,” Darren ended. (Photo: Darren Espanto/Facebook)

Young Kapamilya singer Darren Espanto took to social media to mourn the death of his former road manager, Carmencita “Karen” Pelayo who died after being stabbed last Monday.

Along with photos of him and his “Ate Karen,” Darren wrote, “I still couldn’t believe the news of your passing, ate Karen. Nanginginig ako hanggang ngayon kasi ‘di ako makapaniwala sa nabalitaan ko (I’m still shaking until now because I cannot believe what I have heard).“

“Actually, ayaw ko maniwala sa totoo lang. Sobra kasing masakit. Napakabuti mong tao (I do not want to believe in it, to be honest. It hurts so much. You were such a good person),” he continued.

Darren then recalled memories he shared with Karen whom he described as someone who is “more than” just a colleague to him.

“Inalagaan mo ako at itinuring na parang kapamilya mo at ganoon ka rin sa amin (You have taken care of me and treated me as your family — you were also like that to us). You are family to us… You will forever be my ‘Ate Karen,’” he said, adding that he will keep all his fond memories with Karen — may it be good or bad — as well as remember all the things his road manager had taught him.

“I love you so much and I’ll keep you close to my heart always,” Darren ended.

In an exclusive report by ABS-CBN news on April 9, Karen and her friend, Karwin Guevarra, travelled to Pampanga on Saturday to meet their friend named “Regine.”

“May kukunin silang pera. ‘Yung bank account nung dalawa doon ipapasok ‘yung pera (They will get some money. It will be deposited to their bank accounts),” Mark John Hernandez, Karen’s husband, said.

Karen and Karwin, however, were both found lifeless inside a house in Mabalacat City, with multiple stabs in their bodies and was hit in the head. Regine, on the other hand, survived the attack.

The police identified Regine as the suspect of the crime as they found “inconsistency” on her statement.

“Ang una kwento niya, siya raw ay pinalo ng sinasabing unidentified suspect. Na-unconcious siya tapos nagtulog-tulugan (She initially said that she was hit by an unidentified suspect. She was unconscious and then pretended to be asleep),” he said.

Although there were scratches on Regine’s body, the police said it looked like it was “self-inflicted.”

Relatives of the victims, according to the report, said the three have been friends for a long time and that Regine was allegedly indebted to Karen and Karwin. This is what the police was looking as a possible motive behind the crime.

The cops are set to file a double murder case against Regine, the report said.

Mark’s sibling, meanwhile, posted on their brother’s Facebook account, saying that Karen’s wake is being held at Pulong Ipil, Candaba, Pampanga.