Slain woman’s brod files charges vs husband, son

MANILA, Philippines - The younger brother of a woman whose body was found in the trunk of the family car filed charges against her husband and son in Camarin, Caloocan City Thursday.

Roel Mandapat, younger brother of Marilou Mandapat-Jorge, 49, filed parricide charges against the victim’s 20-year-old son, Jorge Jose Jorge Jr., and obstruction of justice charges against her husband, Jorge Jose Jorge Sr., 52, before the city prosecutor’s office, according to city police chief Senior Superintendent Rimas Calixto.

Marilou’s body was discovered in the trunk of their Honda Civic (CTF-103) parked four blocks away from their house in North Matrixville Subdivision in Barangay 177 on Nov. 28 at around 5 p.m.

Chief Inspector Ronald Perilla, the city police’s North Extension Office investigation head, said two of four witnesses pointed to Jorge Jr. as the one who allegedly parked the car in the area at around 3 a.m. on Nov. 27.

The victim was clad in a nightdress and panties, with both hands bound with wire behind her back when she was found, police said. Perilla said she died from “traumatic head injury.”

Perilla said the wire used in tying Marilou’s hands was taken from the toolbox in her family’s garage.

He said Jose Sr., a manager of a private firm, initially told them that he and his daughter left his wife and son Jose Jr. in the house at around 6 a.m. on Nov. 27.

Perilla said Jose Sr. told them that when he returned home, his wife had left, apparently taking the car with her. He told police he tried to contact her cell phone but failed.

Jose Sr. said he only learned of Marilou’s death when her body was found the following day, Perilla said.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, city police investigation chief, said the time in Jose Sr.’s statement “contradicts” that of the four witnesses.

Soriano said that when investigators wanted more information, the Jorges had their lawyers face the police officers, who were barred from entering the house.

“In normal cases, the kin of the victims were the ones seeking police help. But in this particular case, they are avoiding our investigators,” Soriano said. He added that they have yet to establish the motive for Marilou’s killing as none of her family members, including her children, wanted to talk to the police.