Man who gouged out therapist’s eyes faces raps

CEBU, Philippines - Cases have been filed against the alleged drug addict who gouged out the eyes of a 79-year-old therapist using a spoon after the latter refused to give him a “hilot,” a traditional Filipino massage.

Manuel Dave Sumalpong, 33, is facing two cases, frustrated murder and serious physical injuries, filed by the Sawang Calero Police Station before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office..

Station Chief Inspector Keith Allen Andaya said they filed criminal charges for frustrated murder after one of the witnesses issued an affidavit ascertaining that Sumalpong attempted to strangle the victim, Faustina Villacorta Gilay.

 “Naa gyud diay intent to kill kay iya man to gisuwayan pagtuok,” Andaya said.

The victim is still recuperating in a hospital in Cebu City.

The FREEMAN tried to interview the family of the victim, but the hospital management refused to grant reporters access to the victim’s ward.

Gilay’s granddaughter, Cherylin Gilay, earlier said they need financial assistance for her grandma’s surgery and medication.

“Nagkinahanglan gyud me og financial nga ayuda kay matag karon ug unya aduna may mga palaliton nga tambal,” she said.

In a separate interview, Sumalpong said he will face the charges filed against him.

“Wala nako’y mahimo kay nahuman naman ang krimen, andam nako mopuyo niini sa Big Brother’s house sa City Jail sa (Barangay) Kalunasan,” he quipped.

Sumalpong admitted that he gouged Gilay’s eyes out using a spoon, believing she was a demon.

“Ambot lang wala gyud ko nasayod sa ako nahimo nga krimen kay daghan man kaayo naghunghung sa ako dalungan gud wa nako kasabot,” he told reporters.

He also admitted that he was high on drugs when he committed the crime.

He said he bought a shabu worth P200 and rugby a night before the incident, which happened inside the victim’s house in Sitio Omega, Block 2, Barangay Sawang Calero Wednesday morning. The family of the victim found Gilay’s left eyeball hanging loose, while the right eye was on the floor.

The suspect said he went to Gilay, a known hilot practitioner in the area, to avail of her services because he was feeling ill that time.

“Gabie sa wala pa ko nakahimo sa krimen nakasuyop ko og balig P200 nga drugas nga gipalit nako ug naka-rugby sab ko, mao pagkabuntag naglain ako kabuhi, mao niadto ko ila Tinang (Gilay), apan naghigda lang ang tiguwang ug lain og tinan-awan nako mao ako natuok pero nakabantay man ko mao ako gibuhian,” he said.

When he loosened his grip on her, he said, someone whisper in his ear, prompting him to gouge both the eyes of Gilay.

 “Human nako siya nabuhian adunay naghunghung na usab nako mao ako siya giyak-an ug gilugit iyang mata gamit ang kutsara. Wala ko magdahum nga naay nasuko nako kay wala naman ko kahibalo sunod panghitabo kay mao nalang ako nahibaw-an naa nako prisohan ug aduna nay mga bun-og ug bangog pa sa drugas,” he said.

Sumalpong, a former job order employee of the Cebu City Hall assigned to the Engineering Department, is asking for forgiveness from the victim and her family.

He said he is willing to donate his eyes to Gilay. — Mae Clydyl L. Avila and Rowena D. Capistrano (FREEMAN)