THE remains of the Filipino lawyer who was killed in a shooting incident in Philadelphia last week arrived home yesterday, according to Philippine Consul General to New York Elmer Cato.
“In a few minutes, our kababayan John Albert Laylo will begin his final journey home accompanied by his mother Leah Bustamante Laylo and cousin Miggy,” Cato said in a tweet on Tuesday night, Manila time.
“We would like to thank the members of the Filipino community who responded to our call for prayers as well as those who offered their time and shared their resources with the family during this difficult time,” he added.
He said Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola and incoming Department of Migrant Workers Susan Ople were instrumental in efforts to bring home Laylo’s remains.
Cato also expressed gratitude to Philadelphia authorities, led by Mayor Jim Kenney, who he said assured the Laylo family that they will do everything to bring whoever is responsible for his death to justice.
Cato earlier met with Kenney as well as City Police Commissioner Daniella Outlaw for progress reports on the investigation and to press for the identification and arrest of the gunman.
Kenney had said he was appalled by the “heinous and senseless” incident as he called on anyone with information on the shooting incident to inform the police.
Initial investigation showed that Laylo and his mother, Leah, were on their way to the Philadelphia International Airport to catch a flight to Chicago when someone in a black car fired several rounds into their Uber at a red light.
Laylo was hit in the head and passed away several hours after while being treated in a local hospital. His mother was slightly injured by glass fragments.
Cato said the fatal shooting could be a case of mistaken identity, citing police sources who say the gunman appears to have fired at the wrong vehicle that was similar to what he was chasing.
Cato also posted details of Laylo’s funeral, saying the viewing of his remains will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the La Funeraria Paz, Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Paranaque city.
Final viewing will be on July 2, followed a day later by the cremation of his remains.
