Amplifier

‘Glee’ Singer Charice’s Father Stabbed to Death

By | Amplifier – Tue, Nov 1, 2011 4:33 PM EDT

The father of 19-year-old Charice Pempengco -- who has a recurring role on Glee as Sunshine Corazon -- was stabbed to death in her Philippines hometown according to the AP.

Although she's been estranged from her father since childhood, Charice cancelled several upcoming shows in Singapore, explaining via Twitter, "I have to go back to the Philippines as soon as possible to be with my family."

Her father, a 40-year-old construction worker, had been shopping in a grocery store late Monday night when he bumped into a drunken man who then stabbed him in the chest and back with an ice pick, according to the local police chief. The police know the identity of the alleged murderer and are currently conducting a manhunt for him, offering 20,000 pesos ($470 U.S. dollars) for information leading to his arrest.

Famous for her beyond-her-years mezzo soprano voice, Charice rose to prominence via YouTube and broke through to American audiences thanks to appearances on <i>The Ellen DeGeneres Show</i> and her recurring role on Fox's <i>Glee</i>.

Charice hadn't seen her father for years, explaining to Oprah in 2008 that he abused and threatened her mother, who left him when Charice and her brother were very young. Nevertheless, she affectionately Tweeted about him several times following the tragic news. "I loved him and I will still love him," Charice wrote. "He's still my dad after all."

[Photo: Bill McCay/WireImage.com]

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