Burnaby, B.C. - “ Mabuti na lang nalaman na at ipagdasal na lang namin siya,” the sister of Virginia Itubay told Philippine Asian News Today (PNT) when reached by telephone from her home in Burnaby. Mamerta ‘Maming’ Renouf said she was thankful for police for not giving up on the investigation into her sister’s death two years ago on Jan. 21, 2010.
Vincenzo Moscato Peragine, 29, of Coquitlam appeared in a Vancouver courthouse Tuesday (Jan. 17) charged with failing to remain at the scene of an accident causing death. His next appearance is on Jan. 31. Itubay, an unmarried and retired care aide, was on her way home from church or the grocery store that day when she was struck by a black BMW as she crossed Willingdon Avenue at Kitchener Street in Burnaby. Itubay’s niece, Ria Renouf, expressed relief and gratitude that an arrest has been made - and forgiveness for the man accused of leaving her 73-year-old aunt’s broken body on the street.
“My Tita Virgie was a warm, loving, happy woman, loved dearly by our family,” she told media at the police announcement of the charges. “On Jan. 21, 2010, someone took that warmth, love and happiness away from us. Somebody extinguished one of the lights that made our family shine so brightly. Today, her light shines a little brighter in our family once again.”
The impact threw Itubay into the air; broke her spine, shattered parts of her cranium and pelvis, and damaged her organs. She died in hospital the next day and was taken home to the Philippines for burial. 
Renouf, who was only 19 at the time of the crash and had to make the decision to take her aunt off life support in hospital, said she does not harbour any anger against the man behind the wheel.
“It was an accident and we get that,” she said. “All we are going to do is pray for him and hope that he gets through this.”
“Palaging ko na lang napanaginipan ang Ate ko,” Maming told PNT. “At kung hindi ko makita ang kanyang letrato ay ako’y umiiyak.”
The Itubays are from Malinaw, Aklan. Four sisters including the late Virginia came to Canada in the early 80’s, settling first in Ontario and then to B.C. One sister- Gualberta is still in Ontario.
The sisters worked as caregivers until illnesses forced them to retire. Mamerta, who is divorced, lives with her daughter Ria. A scholar at SFU she expects to finish her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology this year.
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