Pregnant woman’s slay linked to drugs

MANILA, Philippines - A pregnant woman was stabbed dead in what investigators believe was a drug-related killing in Tondo, Manila before dawn yesterday.

Rochelle Bautista, who was eight months pregnant, was suspected of being a drug peddler, according to police.

Bautista, 27, was repeatedly stabbed in the chest and back. She died while undergoing treatment at the Tondo Medical Hospital. 

Her alleged assailant, Rolito Morallos, 32, reportedly an ex-convict, fled with the knife used in the killing.

Police Officer 3 Michael Marragun said Bautista’s neighbor, Jocelyn Pascual, saw Morallos stabbing the victim in front of Bautista’s house at around 4 a.m. Pascual said Morallos fled when she told him to stop attacking Bautista.