ILOILO CITY, Philippines — In less than two months, at least five incidents of husbands or common-law husbands killing their wives were reported in Western Visayas, and most of these, based on police reports, were driven by jealousy.
The latest incident, last October 15, was that of 28-year-old Leah Ireneo who was found dead by her son inside the room of her house at sitio Cambalatong in Brgy. Bancal of Carles town in Iloilo. A blanket was tightly tied around her neck and foul odor engulfed the entire room when her body was found by her son who was living with his grandfather at the adjacent house.
The boy checked on her mother when he did not see her for the whole day. Neighbors claimed to have heard a strange sound at around 5 p.m. the day before. Investigators believed that Ireneo's live-in partner Lichael Roxas, a native of Bulacan province, strangled Ireneo to death, left the house and locked all doors.
Senior Insp. Ariel Artillero, Carles Police chief, believed that Roxas changed his trousers and shirt and left them discarded in the room. He even forgot to bring his wallet.
"Because he had no money, he went back early morning of Saturday. A neighbor even saw him," and that was the last time he was seen, Artillero said.
The police official said that, before the incident, the victim told her cousin that he had a misunderstanding with Roxas who got jealous for a still undisclosed reason. He added that the family refused an autopsy examination on Ireneo's body.
The most controversial domestic killing was last September 7 when the corpse of 27-year-old Margie dela Torre was dug up from a pigpen at Brgy. San Blas in Pilar, Capiz.
The body was in advanced state of decomposition, but the police was sure it belonged to Margie, a native of Brgy. Naiba, San Jose, Negros Oriental. The body was buried two-foot deep, covered with soil, and had a cemented floor on top of it. To make it appear like it was a real pigpen, her husband, 34-year-old Patricio dela Torre, placed a nipa roofing over it.
Margie went missing since the first week of last June. When friends asked Patricio about her whereabouts, he told them that Margie eloped with her male textmate. He apparently got jealous and killed Margie, before leaving to an undisclosed place with their two daughters.
Last September 29, a man allegedly suffering from nervous breakdown killed his wife at Brgy. Tiglawa in San Joaquin, Iloilo. Galeo Sernicula, 45, allegedly hacked his wife Margie, 42, and slashed her throat. Before the incident, relatives and neighbors claimed Galeo was acting strangely, and went berserk upon learning that he was not the father of the two of their four children.
Last October 8, Marlo Bonifacio, 39, allegedly tried to take his own life after stabbing his wife Analie, 38, and then cutting off his genitals at their house in Brgy. Pagbunitan, Sigma, Capiz. Police reports said the couple just arrived from the market where they collected dues from their customers. Analie was at the kitchen when Marlo suddenly plunged a knife on her. The victim was taken to the hospital where she died hours later.
Investigators said Marlo may have been suffering from a nervous breakdown, and was surmised that he went paranoid after he witnessed how his aunt eloped with another man.
On October 12, Victor Alba, 51, was arrested after shooting to death his wife Rosalie, 45, at Brgy. Tapi in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. The victim was hit on the head and died on the spot. (FREEMAN)