Family of 4 stabbed dead in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A barangay health worker and her three teenage children were found dead with multiple stab wounds inside their home in Josefina town, Zamboanga del Sur on Monday.

The fatalities were identified as Arlyn Dumalte, 42, and her children Arnel, 12; En-en, 15, and Nassel, 17.

The bodies were discovered by neighbors who noticed that the family had not come out of their house in Purok 5, Barangay Litapan since the weekend.

Barangay councilman Alejo Indangan told probers that he noticed an unusual absence of activity inside the victims’ house as he was passing by on the way to his farm.

Indangan said he decided to come closer. He saw a bloodied hand protruding from a hole in the wall, prompting him to call his neighbors.

Police said the neighbors forced open the door and found the victims lying on the floor.

Lt. Julito Pamalaran, Josefina police chief, said the victims could have been killed on Saturday night.

Since the victims’ house is isolated from the rest of the neighborhood, the killing was not immediately discovered.

Police said they have persons of interest, but refused to identify them so as not to compromise the investigation.

Meanwhile, relatives of the victims are asking police to investigate the woman’s alleged partner for possible involvement in the murder.

Relatives said they found the man mysterious.

“He wears a cap, covers his face with a mask whenever he is around. He does not mingle with us,” a relative said.

Local officials said the man has been missing since Saturday night. — John Unson