A 21-year-old man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly strangling his 51-year-old mother dead with a nylon rope inside their house at barangay Lunop in Boljoon.
Boljoon police investigator, SPO1 Roderick Roma, identified the victim as Salome Chua and the suspect as Berthoven Chua.
Honoria Deraman, the 82-year-old mother of the victim, told investigators that she first heard a shout for help from the Chua house, which was just 10 meters away.
She chose to ignore it and closed and locked her door instead for fear that her grandson Berthoven might hurt the family.
Minutes later, victim’s brother Leon Chua arrived at Salome’s house and saw the body of his mother bathed in blood.
Leon said that Berthoven was crying over the body of their mother while admitting killing her. This prompted Leon to tie the hands of Berthoven and took him to the town’s police.
Berthoven was believed to be mentally impaired and his family had tied him supposedly to control him. He however was able to convince his mother that tying him up was no longer necessary.
“Mihangyo man ang iyang anak kung mahimo tangtangon na lang ang higot nga pisi kay maayo naman daw siya,” Roma narrated. Salome acceded to his son’s request but she was in turn killed.
The police also believed the injuries and wounds sustained by Salome was caused when the mother and son strangled each other. “Among pagtuo nga gikulata ang iyang inahan ug human giguyod-guyod pinaagi sa paghigot sa pisi sa liog,” investigators said.
Roma said a parricide case will be filed against Berthoven. — Garry B. Lao/RAE