Suspect Rex Sta. Maria, 31 jobless, of Barangay Tonsuya, was later detained at the police headquarters pending the filing of charges of illegal detention, multiple physical injuries, sexual assault and arson.
Police identified the victims as Rachel Diones, 25 and her son, Guilmore, 3: and Juliet Jose, 29, and her daughter Patricia Ann, 4. Both women were overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and residents of Barangay Maysilo.
Senior Inspector Napoleon Bataycan, city police investigation chief, said at around 5:30 p.m. Monday, the suspect believed to be high on drugs and armed with an ice pick, a knife and a wooden club, without warning dragged the victims into his house, locked the door and took them hostage. While inside, the suspect threatened to kill them if they would resist.
Diones told probers that at knife point, the suspect fondled her breasts against her will.
After molesting her, the suspect took a Bible, poured kerosene on it and lit it with a lighter as he allegedly told the victims they would all burn to death.
The two mothers, however, bravely decided to put up a fight to save their two children but were repeatedly beaten by the suspect with a wooden club.
When they noticed the fire getting bigger, they put it out but the suspect continued to hit them.
Despite injuries, they waited for an opportunity to free themselves. Luckily, the chance came at around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when they outsmarted and then shoved the suspect out of his house. —— Jerry Botial