Pa kills baby, stuffs body inside pail

A jobless man, allegedly a drug dependent, slashed the throat of his seven-month-old daughter and later stuffed the body inside a covered pail in Tondo, Manila last Friday.

The body of Jewelle Arce was found by responding police inside the pail in the kitchen of the family’s house at Pier Dos, T.R. Malonzo Compound, Tondo, Manila yesterday morning.

Investigator SPO1 Dennis Javier said the victim suffered three slash wounds in the neck . The body was already stiff when discovered.

Responding policemen said the suspect Isagani Intong Jr., 21, would be charged with parricide. The victim carried the surname of the mother Magnolia Arce because she was not married to the suspect.

"Although the victim’s mother is not married to the father, the latter will still be charged with parricide. We will just use the statement we gathered from relatives and neighbors that the suspect was the father of the victim," investigator SPO1 Dennis Javier said.

Investigator said the victim’s body was discovered at around 9 a.m. yesterday morning, or 16 hours after the suspect took the baby from his mother at around 5 p.m. Friday.

Intong’s mother Editha, 41, said she was babysitting her granddaughter when her son took the baby from her.

"I left them near the kitchen as I went upstairs to watch television. I didn’t hear the baby cry," said the grandmother, who added that they started to become worried when the victim’s mother arrived looking for the baby.

Editha said relatives and neighbors looked everywhere for the baby all night but their efforts proved futile. "We never thought that the baby was just inside the covered pail at the kitchen."

Finally, Editha said her son confessed to what he did to the baby. "Pinatay ko siya at nandoon siya sa timba."

The grandmother ran to a nearby police station and reported the incident. Responding lawmen arrested the suspect and discovered the body. – Cecille Suerte Felipe