Helper found dead; suitor prime suspect

CEBU, Philippines -  A 22-year-old woman who was employed as a house help was found dead inside the bathroom of the house where she worked at BF Homes Subdivision, barangay Lawaan I, Talisay City.

Mary Jane Apaap Parame, a native of barangay Camp 8, Toledo City died from asphyxiation, her neck showing marks that would indicate she was choked, with blood coming out of her mouth and nose.

The police have tagged alleged suitor Edsel Deiparine, of barangay Veto, Minglanilla town as the suspect.

He is at large.

SPO1 Edgar Causon yesterday said Deiparine worked previously at the beauty parlor of Mrs. Teresita Gabison’s daughter.

Deiparine also stayed at Mrs. Gabison’s house while he worked at the beauty parlor.

Recently, Mrs. Gabison learned that Deiparine had courted Parame.

Some neighbors saw Deiparine yesterday dawn knocking on the door of Mrs. Gabison’s house.

Every morning, Mrs. Gabison goes out from her house to exercise.

Yesterday morning while on her way to her daily routine, Mrs. Gabison called to her house help: “Mary Jane, mangaon unya ta ha inig human nako og lakaw (Let’s have breakfast when I come back).”

When Mrs. Gabison heard no answer, she went downstairs and straight to the bathroom where she thought Parame was at the time.

She said she knocked on the door and when there was no answer she tried to pull it open but somehow she felt someone was trying to pull it back.

Mrs. Gabison who thought it was Parame inside the bathroom said “dili ko mopahawa diri kung dili ka motubag (Im not leaving until you answer me).”

Mrs. Gabison then let go of the door, and moments later a man who was covering his face with a towel rushed out of the bathroom, bumping her in the process.

Mrs. Gabison tried to pull the towel from the man’s face but was unsuccessful because she fell to the floor.

Inside the bathroom, Mrs. Gabison saw Parame in her underwear and lying on the floor.

She saw blood coming out from her mouth and nose.

The police found a towel outside of the house.

Mrs. Gabison told the police the man’s profile gave her a hint it was Deiparine.

Parame’s body was brought to Mount Olive Funeral Homes for autopsy.

The Talisay City police and the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) office from provincial headquarters are investigating.  (FREEMAN)