Taoist temple caretaker killed

A woman caretaker of a Taoist temple in Manila was stabbed dead by her alleged drug-crazed son in their apartment in Sta. Cruz, Manila, the other night.

Homicide investigators of the Western Police District identified the victim as Lyn Cheng Eng, widow, a native of Fujian, China.

Police found the bloody body of Eng inside room 707 of the Juliana Apartments in Severino Reyes street, Sta. Cruz at about 9 p.m. The victim bore four stab wounds in the chest and a stab wound in the abdomen.

Her son, Tiu Zi Xiong, 22, was later collared by police in a follow-up operation. He is now undergoing questioning.

Initial investigation showed that the victim and the suspect were in their apartment when their neighbors heard a commotion and the victim shouting for help. Witnesses later saw the suspect rushing out of the apartment.

When neighbors rushed inside, they found Eng bleeding and slumped on the floor.

The suspect who is detained at the WPD Integrated Jail, refused to answer questions from reporters. Investigators said the suspect, who still appears to be dazed, was subjected to a drug test.

Reynante Regala, caretaker of the Juliana Apartments, told police that prior to the incident, he had not heard any arguments between the suspect and the victim. Regala, however, observed that the suspect appeared to be talking to himself several days before the incident.

Meanwhile, a Malabon City regional trial court (RTC) has sentenced a 21-year-old man to a life term for shooting a neighbor to death in a basketball game three years ago.

Judge Benjamin Antonio (Branch 170) also ordered Domingo dela Torre, single, of Road 10, North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS), Navotas, to pay the heirs of the victim, Marvin Pescante, the amount of P67,000 as damages.

Court records showed the accused shot the victim with an improvised shotgun (sumpak) on Aug. 28, 1999 at the height of a furiously played pick up game.

Solid testimony from witnesses Omar Tanelon and Allen Garcillanosa, who positively identified Dela Torre as the gun wielder, led to the court’s finding the suspect guilty of the crime beyond reasonable doubt.

Witnesses said the victim’s team was stoned by members of the suspect’s group while they were playing and so were forced to stop the play and go home to avoid further trouble. But as they were walking home, Dela Torre allegedly blocked Pescante’s path and shot the victim in the head, killing him instantly. – Mike Frialde and Jerry Botial