Australian kills designer, self

CEBU, Philippines - A popular Cebu-based fashion designer was shot dead inside her home in Cabancalan, Mandaue City last Saturday night by her live-in partner, who also took his own life.

Joy Bernaldez, 52, owner of J Berns Exclusives, died due to a single gunshot wound in the head. 

Her live-in partner, Australian national Joseph Cardona, 53, was found dead at the garage of their home. He succumbed to a single gunshot wound in an apparent suicide.

House helpers told police that the couple had an argument prior to the shooting.

One of the helpers told police that Cardona went upstairs to turn off the lights when Bernaldez also went up to get her laptop PC.

Before she could reach the the second floor, Cardona reportedly shot her using a .22 caliber magnum revolver.

Chona Cabugason, one of the helpers said that when they heard the gunshot, they checked and found Bernaldez already dead.

Sensing danger, they told police that they locked themselves inside the room where two grandchildren of Bernaldez were staying.

PO3 Rommel Lim, case investigator from the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Mandaue City Police Office, said that Bernaldez and Cardona lived together for over two years in Agro-Macro Subdivision.

After Cardona shot Bernaldez, he reportedly went looking for Jose Mariano Climaco, the victim’s son, who also lives in the same house.

Climaco, who was already outside the house, fled when he sensed he was in danger.

Lim said that he suspects that Cardona was planning to kill the son, but failed when Climaco fled and sought help from neighbors.

“Mao unta’y isunod pero nakabantay man nakadagan siya nigukod pa ang suspect pero wa na kaapas,” Lim told The FREEMAN in a phone interview.

He said that the helpers added that shortly after Cardona failed to find Climaco, they heard another gunshot.

“Mura’g gi-um-om niya ang revolver kay iyang samad naa man sa may tangkugo mura’g nilapos na to,” Lim said.

Motive

Lim said that the helpers told him that it wasn’t unusual for the couple to be arguing, but in the past, they usually would just easily make up.

He added that nobody could tell what triggered the couple’s argument that led to the killing.

 Based on information gathered by the investigators, Bernaldez reportedly wanted to break up with Cardona, which he resented.

The police will, however, dig into other angles on the incident.

Popular designer

 Bernaldez put up J Berns when she was only 19 years old.

She has shops located in Cebu, Manila and Bohol, where her family hails from.

Bernaldez finished a hospitality degree at the University of the Philippines and used her love for dressing and her budding designing talent to start her fashion business.

Bernaldez founded Clothes for Life Foundation in 1997. This is a group composed of people in the fashion industry, who are working for a good cause.

She and her children were granted permanent residency in Australia in 2005, but she relocated to join her family only in 2007.

She came back two years later and focused on doing bridal wear and office uniforms that gave her a lot of time for civic and charity work with Clothes for Life.

Family’s statement

The family of the victim thanked those that have condoled with them and offered all sorts of assistance to help ease the pain in this difficult time.

They, however, requested for the kind understanding of the community and respect for their desire for privacy.

“We would like to request for the community’s kind understanding and respect for our wishes of privacy as we grieve and try to come to terms with the loss of our beloved mother. We are in full cooperation with the authorities and have provided them with our statements. We will continue to work with them as they continue to bring closure to this matter,” the statement read.

Her remains lie at Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Nivel Hills.

Interment is set on December 23, but no other details have been provided yet. —/NLQ (FREEMAN)