CEBU, Philippines – A 68-year-old coconut wine gatherer was found dead with throat slit Sunday near a creek in Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City.
Police later arrested the suspect, a 19-year-old girl.
Agustin Fernandez was found naked and already dead, with his neck slashed, two days after he was allegedly seen with the suspect, Donnamae Pardillo.
Three teenagers, Ivan Esmero, 19; Richmond Esmero, 15; and Basilio Barliso, 15, said they saw the victim and the suspect together at around 2 p.m. last Friday, said Senior Police Officer 1 Benjamin Sevilleta.
Thinking that the two were going to have sex, the three of them silently followed towards a bushy place near a creek.
Upon reaching the place, the witnesses claimed they got scared that the victim and the suspect might see them so they decided to retreat and go home.
The victim’s family went to look for Fernandez and eventually found his body near the creek on Sunday.
The police recovered from the crime scene a pair of red slippers and a scythe scabbard believed to be owned by the victim.
Sevilleta said Pardillo might have used the victim’s scythe in killing him.
“Basin ang sanggot sa biktima ang gigamit kay wala na man ang sanggot sa lugar, ang sakuban na man lang ang nahabilin,” he said.
Following the witnesses’ testimonies, the suspect was arrested at her house and was brought to the police station.
Sevilleta said the suspect was uncooperative with the investigation and denied that she was with the victim prior to the discovery of the body.
“Giimbestigar na namo ang tomboy (suspect), pero niana man siya nga wa daw sila gaaway sa biktima. Iya pud ganing gilimod nga nagkuyog sila sa biktima,” added Sevilleta. — /NSA (FREEMAN)