Valentine's Day massacre: 4 dead

MANILA, Philippines - A family of four was found dead on Valentine’s Day yesterday inside their home in Cainta, Rizal.

Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Sammy Pagdilao Jr., ordered a region-wide manhunt against the suspect, Junjun Asebar, 24; who could have something to do with the killing of his uncle, Amado Sr., 42; his wife, Elizabeth, 46; and their children, Amado Jr., 12; and Prichie, 10.

Pagdilao directed the Rizal police to gather evidence to pin the suspect down in the Valentine’s Day massacre.

Reports reaching Pagdilao showed that the victims sustained multiple stab wounds in different parts of the body.

Prichie’s bloodied body was recovered near the door, and police theorized that she could be in the act of escaping the carnage when killed.

In his report, Senior Superintendent Emmanuel Bautista, Cainta police chief said the massacre was discovered at about 5:30 a.m. yesterday by the victims’ neighbors who noticed that Asebar’s motorcycle that was parked in the parking area was missing.

When responding policemen arrived, they discovered the bodies of the victims and the house located at West Manggahan Floodway, Alley 88, Lakas Tao street, in Barangay San Andres ransacked by the suspects.

Cainta Mayor Mon Ilagan believed that there is not only one suspect in the massacre, as there were signs that Amado Sr., have put up a fight. “I strongly believe that there is more than one suspect in the crime. The house is small and the elder victim put up a fight. The youngest child’s body was found leaning at the door, which tends to show that she was about to escape but somebody blocked her path,” said Ilagan.

Initial investigation showed that the elder Asebar and the suspect were engaged in a drinking bout at the victim’s house Sunday night.

When the duo got drunk, they were monitored to engaging in a shouting match for unknown reason between 11 p.m. and 12 midnight.

Neighbors heard Elizabeth shouting, “Tama na Jun,” while Prichie was also begging for the two to stop the fight.

After 15 minutes, silence enveloped the neighborhood until the discovery of the victims’ bodies on Valentine’s Day.

Ilagan rushed to the area after receiving reports of the Valentine’s Day massacre.

He directed the local police to set up checkpoint operations in all exit areas of the city, particularly along the East and West Manggahan but failed to intercept the suspects. – With Ed Amoroso