Man who hacked partner to death charged

Manila, Philippines -  The Muntinlupa police filed criminal charges against a former drug convict who hacked his partner to death out of jealousy last week.

Alfert Prado was charged with parricide before the city prosecutor’s office for killing Emily Berganos, his partner of 20 years, on June 20. He hacked her using a 17-inch bolo after engaging in a heated argument in their shanty along Meralco Road in Barangay Sucat.

“Nobody tried to stop (their argument) because their children and neighbors were used to seeing them quarrel. The people thought it was one of their ‘regular’ fights,” said Chief Inspector Giovanni Martinez, head of the local police intelligence unit.

Fifteen minutes later, their children were shocked upon seeing blood dripping from the second floor of their house.

The eldest child, Alfer Prado, sought the help of barangay officials. The elder Prado warned them not to approach him.

The incident was reported to the police as a hostage-taking incident. Martinez said the children and barangay officials were not aware at the time that Berganos was already dead.

When the police responded, they broke into the house and saw a drunken Prado sitting on his partner’s body, while holding the bolo behind his head.

“He kept uttering words and was speaking in Visayan. From what the police understand, he was jealous of someone,” Martinez said.

The police added that Prado had hacked his neighbors’ pet roosters hours before hacking his partner. Prado remains confined at Ospital ng Muntinlupa, Martinez said.