US visa sought for husband of slain Filipina

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is helping the Philippine-based husband of Kathleen Ping-Vicuña secure a US visitor’s visa so he could attend her burial and grant his wish to “see his wife for the last time.”

Raul Hernandez, the DFA spokesperson, on Saturday assured the government would “do its share in providing the necessary assistance” to Christian Vicuña, husband of Kathleen, one of seven people killed on April 2 in a school shooting in Oakland, California.

“The victim’s family is currently being assisted by both the Philippine consulate in San Francisco and the Bay Area Baptist Church in both visa and burial matters,” Hernandez told the Inquirer.

Twenty-four-year old Kathleen, a secretary-receptionist, worked the front desk in the administrative department of the Oikos University, where the South Korean-born gunman One Goh took her hostage, then killed her.

Former OFW

Christian, 28, lives in Pangil, Laguna. The former overseas Filipino worker has a pending application with the US Immigration and Naturalization to move to the US.

The young architect used to work in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

According to his father Lauro, Christian is “still very depressed, but we’re confident he would be fit to travel to the US to see his wife and also (four-year-old son) Kayzzer, who is in Oakland.”

“My son, Ian, would like to attend Kathleen’s funeral and see her for the last time. That’s his personal wish,” he said during a phone interview.

But he said, “our top priority now is to have Christian sign the documents authorizing the release of Kathleen’s body from the hospital (in Oakland).

In a better place

“Christian is a little apprehensive if he should sign the documents now. He is worried Kathleen’s funeral might proceed even he is still here in the Philippines. We’re giving him time to think things over… Kathleen’s death was a big shock for all of us. But I think my son has accepted the fact that she’s passed and in a better place right now,” Lauro Vicuña added.

According to Hernandez, the consulate has been in touch with Kathleen’s US-based family. Last Thursday, consulate officials visited them in their residence in East Oakland, California.”