Man faces raps for death of live-in partner

A man who strangled his pregnant live-in partner to death is now facing murder and intentional abortion charges before the Regional Trial Court.

Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba approved the resolution indicting Ronnie Bentulan for the killing of his common-law wife, Genisa Abella, who was then nine months pregnant, on November 2, 2005. Bentulan, despite the subpoena issued by the prosecutor's office, failed to submit his counter-affidavit prompting them to file the case in court.

Petralba recommended P24,000 bail for Bentulan's temporary liberty on the intentional abortion case but even if he could raise the money he will still be incarcerated because the other charge he is facing is non-bailable.

Bentulan allegedly killed his live-in partner and made it appear that the latter committed a suicide by hanging herself with a rope. However, the autopsy report showed that the victim was actually strangled to death causing also the death of the fetus inside her womb. Contusions were also noted on the victim's left shoulder joints, both lumbar and gluteal areas, which shows foul play.

Witnesses also said that they heard a commotion in the house of the victim at about 10:00 p.m. of November 1, 2005. Luis Dayondon said that he heard Bentulan threatening to kill the victim prompting him to peep through the hole in the "amakan" wall and saw the accused tying a rope around his wife's neck. Dayondon said that he did not bother to intervene thinking it was just a joke until he was awakened by the shouting of the accused at 1:00 a.m. calling for help as his live-in partner allegedly committed suicide. The victim's brother, Marvin Abella, said that he also heard a commotion at his sister's house but ignored it because it had become normal for the couple to argue every time the accused is drunk. Abella said he was surprised when Bentulan called his mother at about 1:00 a.m. to look at his sister already hanging with a rope tied on her neck. - Fred P. Languido