MANILA, Philippines — A grieving father who had just lost his son stabbed three persons during a wake in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday.
Construction worker Aries Coquilla stabbed his three-year-old daughter and wife Jennifer with a jungle bolo during the wake along Dagupan Extension in Barangay 163, according to the Manila Police District.
Jennifer and her child are recovering from their injuries, police said.
Probers said Coquilla went to the store of 69-year-old Emedina Nabua and stabbed her to death.
Nabua’s son, Christopher, said he could not believe that the suspect had to involve the elderly victim in his problems.
In an interview with television reporters, the suspect asked for forgiveness and said he committed the crime because of distress caused by the death of his eldest son.
“I only did what I did because I could not accept the death of my eldest,” Coquilla said in Filipino.
Charges of homicide, frustrated parricide as well as public alarm and scandal will be filed against the suspect.