Woman accused of strangling partner

MANILA, Philippines - A 56-year-old woman surrendered Friday night, hours after being implicated in the killing of her female partner in Quezon City. 

Patricia Pilapil is a suspect in the death of Josephine Balangguit, 51, who was found dead at around 3 a.m. on Friday in Diliman, said Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano.

Doctors said the victim might have been strangled to death since she bore a ligature mark on her neck.

Pilapil had sought refuge among relatives in her hometown in Dinalupihan, Bataan. Her relatives urged her to surrender to the town police. Superintendent Ramon Pranada, commander of QCPD Station 6, said he sent his men to fetch Pilapil from the Dinalupihan police station.

Balangguit’s children claimed that their mother was a battered partner and that during the lovers’ fights, Pilapil would allegedly whip Balangguit with a leather belt, Senior Police Officer 1 Cristituto Zaldarriaga said.

The victim had reportedly filed complaints before village officials and threatened to break up with Pilapil, he added.

On Friday morning, the two reportedly had a fight. Balangguit’s tenant said she heard her landlady tell Pilapil to just kill her. After the fight, she peeked through a gap in the door and saw the victim lying on the ground.