"I want to kill her myself when I saw her at the police station," said 67-year-old Bernardo Saren, referring to Grace Cuba, 35, who was arrested for killing his daughter Rosita in Quezon City last week.
Although only the victim’s torso and limbs were found inside the bag, the elder Saren identified her through her middle toe.
"It was unique, mataas yung nasa gitnang daliri ng paa niya," said Saren, who flew to Metro Manila from Bukidnon upon receiving word that his fifth child had been killed by her friend.
The victim’s chopped up body was stuffed inside a traveling bag, which Cuba, 35, intentionally left behind in a taxi she took going to the domestic airport in Pasay City.
Police arrested Cuba after the taxi driver gave a detailed description of the suspect.
Investigators said prior to the murder, Cuba fetched the victim from the airport.
Saren had arrived from Taiwan after working there for three years as a caregiver. The two rented an apartment in Baesa, Quezon City, where the victim was killed.
Police said they believe Cuba took all of the victim’s cash amounting to P500,000 and 20,000 Taiwanese dollars.
"Hindi pa umaamin and suspect na may kinuha siyang pera, may mga tawag mula sa Taiwan na nagpadala sila sa victim ng pera," said Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan.
The victim’s father said his daughter was supposed to stay in the country for a few days to have a house built.
"Sabi niya marami siyang pera para sa bahay namin. Wala na ang aming anak, naglaho na rin ang aming mga pangarap na guminhawa ang aming buhay," the father said.
He said they had to borrow money from neighbors just to get to Metro Manila and claim the body.