'Peeping Tom' killed in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines - A carpenter beat up a middle-aged man for allegedly peeping at his wife every time she breastfed their one-month-old baby at a compound in Fairview, Quezon City at past midnight yesterday.

Marcos Lim, 55, died of multiple body injuries after he received first aid at the Fairview General Hospital.

Suspect Bonifacio Dionaldo, 38, was arrested by village watchmen of Barangay Greater Lagro, said Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano, head of the Homicide Investigation Section of the Quezon City Police District.

Both the suspect and victim lived in shanties that served as quarters for the workers of an automotive repair shop in the same compound. Witnesses said Lim did not work for the shop but was nevertheless allowed to live there.

According to Elenzano, Dionaldo claimed Lim always took advantage of the situation every time his wife breastfed their baby. It was the couple’s five-year-old son who told his father about the actions of the old man, police said.

The two men had a confrontation over another issue at past midnight yesterday, during which Lim’s actions toward Dionaldo’s wife were again brought up.

“The suspect slapped the victim. The old man then pulled out a knife and (lunged) at the suspect, who managed to parry the attack. He then (beat up) the old man,” Elenzano said in an interview.

Police Officer 3 Jaime Jimena said Dionaldo’s two co-workers, who rushed the victim for treatment, said they were told by a doctor at the Fairview General Hospital to bring Lim to the FEU Hospital since the first hospital did not have the needed apparatus to treat Lim’s injuries.

However, while they were in a taxi on the way to FEU Hospital, the two co-workers noticed the victim no longer had a pulse. They brought the victim home.

Co-workers Ronald Ubongen and Jaime Mendoza said they were awakened by a sound outside their quarters. When they went out to check, they saw the suspect beating up the victim.

Mendoza said Dionaldo appeared drunk at the time. He also claimed that the suspect attempted to hit the victim with a jack but a co-worker immediately grabbed the tool.

A woman also residing in the compound called for help from the village hall, resulting in the suspect’s arrest.