With fake doctor Dean Faiello behind bars awaiting trial, Engr. Rodolfo Cruz and his wife Irenea and their family have somehow found peace two years after the body of their missing daughter, financial analyst Maria Pilar “Pipay” Cruz, was discovered buried under a concrete slab at Faiello’s former Newark, N.J. home.

“Of course, the pain will always be there, but we’re more at peace now knowing that Faiello is in jail and could never harm again,” says Engr. Cruz in an exclusive interview with the Filipino Reporter.

“We were relieved since Faiello was extradited from Costa Rica (in May 2005),” he said.

Engr. Cruz and his wife visited New York City recently, accompanied by their daughter Dr. Tes Lara, son-in-law Tadeo, and grandchildren Isabel and Anton, to attend the first pre-trial hearing of Faiello, originally scheduled on April 25.

Faiello, 45, is charged with second degree murder in the death of Cruz, 35, and is facing 25 years to life if convicted.

But the hearing was postponed reportedly at the request of the defense. Shortly after the Cruzes left on May 2, the hearing was again set on May 25.

Engr. Cruz said he understands the delays and changes in court scheduling. He said he and other family members will just fly back to New York at the start of the trial.

“It could be costly, I know, but we’ll do anything for Pipay,” he told the Reporter, referring to the cost of travel from Manila to New York — and back.

“Okay lang magkagasta basta may justice,” he added. “At hangga’t kaya ko, I will keep on coming back until I am assured that Faiello will never see the light of day.”

During their recent visit, the Cruzes met behind closed door with authorities at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, including the prosecutor of the case, Assistant D.A. Ann Prunty, who assured the family that the wheels of justice are moving.

“We were told once it (trial) starts, it will nonstop,” Engr. Cruz said.

The family also met with lawyer Leopoldo Abad of Abad Constancio & Mallonga, LLC on legal matters pertaining to Maria Cruz’s estate, which includes her stocks and bank accounts.

“I leave it up to the U.S. justice system and God,” said Engr. Cruz. “Ultimately, God, the one who knows everything, will be Faiello’s final judge.”

Mrs. Cruz said she and her husband visit their daughter’s grave almost everyday at the Manila Memorial Park, which is near the family’s Parañaque City home.

“My only worry is I may not be able to stand seeing Faiello face-to-face,” said Mrs. Cruz. “Hindi ko yata kaya.”

Police say Cruz, a financial analyst at Barclay’s Capital, had gone to Faiello’s Chelsea clinic on April 13, 2003 for laser treatments of a growth on her tongue.

For 10 months, police were unable to find Cruz, sending her family and friends in frantic search of her. But the trail of evidence finally pointed to Faiello, who had fled to Costa Rica after pleading guilty in June 2003 to a separate case of unlicensed practice of medicine charge, which carries a possible four years in prison.

On Feb. 18, 2004, acting on a tip from Faiello’s former lover, Greg Bach, authorities found Cruz’s decomposing body stuffed in a suitcase and buried in the garage of Faiello’s former New Jersey home.