Parents of Jastine ‘can’t even speak’ over loss of ‘sweet girl’

THE parents of tragic murder victim Jastine Valdez are so heartbroken “they can’t even speak”, a family friend has said.

Ms Valdez’s parents have been visited by members of the Filipino community and friends from the locality in recent days.

The tragic victim’s mother Teresita is said to be inconsolable.

“You can’t speak to them at the moment,” the friend said.

“You just have to hold her hand and give her a hug.”

It is understood that a service will be held in Bray before Ms Valdez’s body is repatriated to her final resting place in her hometown of Aritao in the Philippines.

It is expected this will take place in around five days’ time. However, there may still be delays depending on how the investigation into the young woman’s murder progresses.

Another friend of Ms Valdez, Mary Laulita, worked with her in a care home in 2016.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, she said that Jastine was studying accountancy in IT Tallaght in order to help her parents have an early retirement in the Philippines.

“She wanted to help her mum and dad, that’s why she started here and why she started studying,” Ms Laulita said.

While Ms Valdez only worked in the Glenageary nursing home for a short time, Ms Laulita would regularly drop her to the Dart station and she would travel to Bray where her father would collect her.

“Jas was just a very sweet girl, you couldn’t complain about her,” Ms Laulita said.

“She would work hard and was always very friendly with everyone.”

She added that when Ms Valdez would say goodbye, she would always say “I love you”.