In front of 8-year-old daughter

CEBU – The 40-year-old wife of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was brutally murdered and robbed inside her home in Castilex Road, Cabancalan, Mandaue City yesterday morning.

The victim’s eight-year-old daughter, the youngest of three, reportedly saw the whole incident but was luckily spared by the lone assailant.

The victim was identified as Maria Jocelyn Perez Mendoza. She bore five stab wounds in her neck that were inflicted using a kitchen knife, which was recovered by the elements of the Homicide Section of the Mandaue City Police Office at the bed where her children slept.

“Mayna lang gyud intawon nga wala gi-apil ug hilabot ang mga bata,” said Remesilda Ybañez, older sister of the victim.

Jocelyn’s husband Elmer Mednoza works in New Zealand. Their two other daughters are in fourth year high school and in grade four.

Insp. George Aniñon, chief of the homicide section, said that they have not yet ascertained how much cash was taken. The lone assailant has not yet been identified.

The police officer said that, so far, they have been informed that three cellular phones owned by the victim are missing along with cash of undetermined amount.

The police said that the youngest daughter saw the robber enter the sari-sari store owned by the victim, which was just adjacent to their residence.

The assailant was described as thin with thick hair. 

The victim’s sister said that Joy, as the victim was fondly called, had several pieces of jewelry and it could not be ascertained yet whether these were also taken.

She said that her sister had three containers where she put her earnings from the sari-sari store and these were emptied by the robber.

She said that last June, her sister’s house was also broken into. Fortunately at that time, the entire family was vacationing in China, where Elmer used to work as a furniture painter.

Due to that incident, the husband, who went home from China decided to buy a lot in the town of Liloan for the family to transfer their residence.

Euclides Mendoza, Elmer’s father said that his son went to New Zealand last November 8 upon the invitation of his sister.

The father said that he spoke with his son yesterday and Elmer is expected home.

Remesilda added the last time she spoke with her sister was on the first week of December, wherein the latter confided to her that many of their neighbors have owed her money and she has having a hard time collecting from them.

“Ang akong igsoon, dali ra to maluoy. Mao nang magpahuwam to ug kwarta pero walay tubo. Unya ni-ingon siya nako nga maikog siya maningil. Unya naguol sad to siya kay kwarta baya to sa iyang bana,” Remesilda said.

Aniñon added that they are now investigating several angles and are checking those who owed the victim.

Cecilia Mendoza, mother-in-law of the victim said that the last time she spoke with Joy was last December 24, when she went to their home to deliver Christmas gifts. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)