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SAIPAN – The body of Emerita “Emie” Relata Romero, 37, was found by the Federal Bureau of Investigation yesterday afternoon inside the former La Fiesta Mall in San Roque.

A statement released by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) last night said it had “coordinated the notification of Emerita’s family members here on Saipan and the Philippines.”

The Philippine Consulate-General for its part “trusts that the authorities of the United States and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall get to the bottom of the incident and bring the perpetrators of this brazen and inhumane act to justice.”

At about 5:10 p.m. yesterday, a white DPS Crime Scene Investigation pick-up truck carrying Romero’s remains was seen coming out of the former mall.

“The crime scene is being processed with the assistance of the FBI and DPS [which is] treating this case as a homicide,” the department stated, adding it extends its “deep gratitude to all the volunteers and members of the community for their assistance and support.”

At about 2:44 p.m., FBI agents informed DPS of the discovery of a body at the former La Fiesta Mall.

“We are here comforting her family members, and we will take care of bringing her back to the Philippines,” Ron Biggers of Godfather’s Bar told Variety last night.

Romero was a bartender at Godfather’s.

Her “tragic death at the hands of still-unknown individual(s) is a cause for concern and reflection in the hearts and minds of peace-loving Filipinos, local residents and people of any race or creed,” according to a statement from the Philippine Consulate-General.

The Consulate-General extends its sympathies to the Romero family and “prays for the grace of the Almighty so that grief shall be eased and comfort and peace shall be with everyone in the Northern Marianas soon.”

DPS and Crime Stoppers are calling on members of the community with any information about this case to call 991, 664-9001 or 234-7272.

Search ends in tragedy

Godfather’s Bar in Garapan, Saipan shuttered at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday as the owners, employees and loyal patrons searched for Romero who went missing last Sunday morning.

The day ended tragically at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday for Romero’s family and friends with the confirmed news that her body was located at the former La Fiesta Mall in San Roque.

The Variety accompanied DPS senior staff, federal authorities and 20 volunteers on the second day of searches along roads leading up to Suicide Cliff.

Simultaneously, authorities were searching beachside and had 10 divers in the water along the western side of Marpi.

DPS abruptly called off the effort at 3:30 p.m. and directed the Godfather’s group back to the Garapan bar to regroup.

At the same time as the car caravan of Romero’s friends drove toward Garapan, the heartbreaking news of her death was confirmed.

Official sources were attempting to contact Romero’s family in the Philippines before the news broke in the CNMI Tuesday.

Variety at press time could not verify whether DPS had notified the family.

The smiling beauty

Friends, employees and clients of Godfather’s who took part in the searches for Romero yesterday described her as “stunningly beautiful” and “incredibly nice.”

One searcher stated he and his wife often saw Romero walking alone after dark around Garapan and commented among themselves that they worried for her safety.

Relata, Romero’s brother, informed their father in Plaridel, Bulacan province about the situation on Sunday, but withheld the information from their mother who has a heart condition.

In addition to her parents, brother Relata and sister Lhet, Romero is survived by two daughters aged 8 and 17.

(With a report from Tammy Doty)