Pregnant woman killed by ex-suitor

MANILA, Philippines - A pregnant woman died while her four-year-old daughter was injured after her jilted suitor who was high on drugs stabbed them Sunday in Valenzuela City, police said yesterday.

Rochelle Paje , 24, suffered 54 stab wounds in the body, which also resulted in the death of the five-month-old baby in her womb.

Chief Inspector Noel Ramirez, head of the Caloocan City police station investigation and detection management bureau, said the suspect, identified as Roberto Sedaza, 31, broke into the victims’ home at 3017 Manero Compound, Candito street in Barangay Ugong at 4:15 a.m. while they were sleeping.

Ramirez said Paje was roused from sleep as Sedaza forced himself on her. She resisted and put up a fight, prompting the suspect to stab her repeatedly.

Paje’s daughter tried to hug her mother but was also stabbed by the suspect. The child remains confined at the Valenzuela General Hospital.

Police Community Precinct 8 commander Senior Inspector Macario Loteyro said Sedaza, a neighbor of the victims, was arrested shortly after the incident.

Witness Lani Salivio told police that she saw the suspect when he entered the victims’ house.

In his detention cell at the Valenzuela police station, Sedaza said he killed Paje after she failed to return the cellular phone she borrowed from him. He also admitted taking shabu before he committed the crime.

Charges of double murder and frustrated murder were filed against Sedaza before the Valenzuela prosecutor’s office.

Paje’s live-in partner , Ronnie Cabangis, told PO2 Michael Oxina that the suspect was a former suitor of the victim.

Cabangis was not around when the incident happened. – With Pete Laude