Grandma hacked to death after being mistaken for 'aswang'

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A 79-year-old woman was hacked to death by her own relatives after she was taken for as ‘aswang’ (a mythical Filipino folklore creature) in a village of Josefina town, Zamboanga del Sur, according to police.

The suspects, including a mother and her two sons, were arrested Sunday by responding authorities at barangay Moraji, according to the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO). 

The police identified the victim as Helaria Montepon Gumilid, widow and a resident of Barangay Moraji while the suspects were her daughter-in-law Myrna Damason Gumilid, 49, sons Rene Boy and Joseph Damason Gumilid, aged 28 and 23, respectively.

Police investigation disclosed that the victim went to visit her grandson who was suffering from mental illness when she was mistaken for an aswang.

The suspects reportedly tied up the victim, slit her armpits and hacked her.

Unconfirmed reports disclosed that the suspects allegedly severed the victim’s arm and removed her organ to stop her from regenerating.

The suspects were temporarily detained at the police station in Josefina town pending the filing of the case.