Debt collector robbed, killed

CEBU, Philippines - A female money lending collector, who was believed to have been robbed, was found dead with her neck slit in Barangay Langtad, Argao town yesterday morning.

Victim Maria Tita Piloton, 35, of Mantalongon, Dalaguete town, was believed to have been killed after he was robbed allegedly by Rhine Jimenez, 28.

Responding personnel from Argao Police Station checked and found Piloton’s body at an isolated area in Barangay Langtad at 11 a.m. yesterday, after receiving a call from a concerned citizen.

A witness happened to pass by the suspect’s house and overheard him telling someone that he killed a person, said Police Officer 2 Paulino Sanchez.

The witness reported this to the police, who verified the same with the suspect’s wife.

The police went to the suspect’s house and were told by the wife that her husband indeed confided to her that he killed someone.

She added that in fact, she allegedly saw blood in her husband’s hand when he got home bringing a blue sling bag allegedly owned by the victim, said Sanchez.

The wife further said that after her conversation with her husband, he left and was nowhere to be found.

The police said the bag may have contained money since the victim was on her usual routine of collecting money from clients.

Sanchez said the suspect might have been planning to rob the victim and saw an opportunity yesterday.

The wife said her husband is a drug dependent, prompting the police to believe that he was high on illegal drugs when he killed Piloton.

The police are still conducting operation to arrest the suspect.  (FREEMAN)