Ex-Army man nabbed for killing lover

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested early yesterday a 59-year-old former Army man for stabbing his 39-year-old lover dead along a busy street in Paco, Manila Thursday afternoon.

Homicide section head Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo said Antonio Gaspay Jr., who had gone AWOL (absent without leave) 10 years ago, was arrested following a brief chase along Canonigo street in Paco by PO3 Henry Parajado. Gaspay was reportedly drinking with neighbors when Parajado spotted him.

Paz, Paco police outpost supervisor Inspector Cresencio Viray had directed his men to conduct a discreet surveillance of the area following a tip that the suspect was hiding among friends.    

Margarejo said Gaspay is the prime suspect in the attack on Gina Cadelliro, who was declared dead on arrival at the Ospital ng Maynila. She sustained six deep stab wounds in the body, mostly in the chest and back.

Case investigator PO3 Jay Ruiz said Cadelliro was walking home with her niece Maricel Sabanal at around 12:30 p.m. when Gaspay, her live-in lover, attacked her. Sabanal said Gaspay also tried to stab her but her aunt shielded her.

At his detention cell, Gaspay said he went blank when he allegedly saw Cadelliro kissing her new boyfriend after alighting from a bus. He said he tried to confront Cadelliro but was told pointblank that she was ending their relationship. “I even left my family for her, and now she had done this to me,” Gaspay said in Filipino.

However, in a separate interview, Sabanal vehemently denied the suspect’s allegation and claimed they did not have any male companion when they arrived from their employer’s house in Muntinlupa. She said her aunt had even bought a shirt for Gaspay as a Christmas present. She said Gaspay was unreasonable, suspecting that her aunt had another lover, especially when they spent the holiday with their employer.

Sabanal said her aunt told her Gaspay had been threatening her and her nine children from a previous marriage if she leaves him. “My aunt is terribly afraid of (Gaspay), especially when she receives a beating,” Sabanal said in Filipino.

Margarejo said murder charges will be filed against the suspect.