'Wife-beater' who visited estranged spouse killed

MANILA, Philippines - A man who visited his estranged wife, who claimed he repeatedly beat her up, on Christmas Day was found dead near her house in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City at past midnight yesterday.

Police Officer 3 Joel Gagaza said Joven Garque, 24, of Mira Monte Heights in Caloocan City, may have been hit on the head with a steel bar or another blunt object.

Gagaza said it was a resident in the low-cost housing building, where his wife and her family live, who saw Garque’s body.

The resident said she heard someone moaning outside and when she checked its source, she saw the victim’s body. She reported the incident to village officials.

Gagaza said that prior to the victim’s death, Garque visited his wife on Christmas Day.

He said that the victim’s wife claimed the two of them separated last Dec. 12. She said Garque physically abused her.

Gagaza said they have yet to identify Garque’s killer and the motive behind it.