Baby of slain Japanese mom goes to parents’ custody

The 9-month-old child of the Japanese woman who was murdered at home last Sunday will be raised by her husband’s parents in Davao City.

The decision to give custody to the Filipino grandparents was reached in a conference yesterday at the Japanese Consulate in Cebu City.

Yasuo Kajii, father of the slain woman, Kotoka, said he and his wife were already old and the high cost of living in Japan made it more practical to allow the infant to be raised in the Philippines.

But he promised to send support to the child, said June Andales, Lapu-Lapu City social worker who was present.

Kotoka was stabbed dead by her Davao-born husband Dexter Louie Denila after the man came home drunk in the wee hours of the morning.

The wife, a diver who moved to Cebu a few years ago after the couple met in Japan, had scolded Dexter about his repeated drinking binges.

Parricide charges were filed against Dexter, who remains in police custody.

The meeting was attended by Dexter’s older brother Darwin, Kotoka’s parents and younger brother, representatives of the Japanese consulate and their lawyer Edison Quiñanola, Lapu-Lapu City social workers led by Andales and regional office social workers.

Kajii said he wanted Dexter’s relatives to have the opportunity to give all their love to the child, which Dexter failed to give.

During the meeting, Darwin Denila, Dexter’s brother, also presented a letter of apology to the Kajiis.

Darwin kneeled in front of the Japanese couple as he presented the letter.

Yasuo bowed and accepted it.

Darwin promised the Kajiis that the family would take care of the baby. He also assured that a sister in Canada would help support the child.

Yasuo said events had already happened and couldn’t bring his daughter back.

He said he and his wife were satisfied with the legal actions taken by police after the killing of Kotoka.

Yasuo sid had nothing against his son-in-law Dexter but since he had violated the law he should suffer its consequences.

During the meeting, the parties talked about the couple’s conjugal property. Their P1 million house in barangay Gabi, Cordova town will be sold and the proceeds will be used to rear the child including her education.

They also agreed that the residence in St. Dominic Subdivision worth P1.5 million, site of the murder, would be turned over to the child when she comes of legal age.

The baby has dual citizenship. Once she turns 21 years old, she can declare Japanese citizenship and choose to live in Japan.

When the Kajiis went to the residence in Lapu-Lapu yesterday morning, they took out Kotoka’s personal belongings and photos. They also visited the couple’s property in Gabi, Cordova town.

Andales said that Dexter’s mother Nemia Denila is coming to Cebu alone to fetch the baby.

Her husband Luis Denila suffered a stroke upon knowing about his son’s arrest on March 26.

Kotoka’s remains are scheduled for cremation today at 11 a.m. at Cebu Rolling Hills in A.S. Fortuna Banilad, Mandaue City.

The Kajiis will return to Japan on Sunday bringing with them Kotoka’s ashes in an urn./With a report from Correspondent Fe Marie Dumaboc