Househelp found dead in cabinet

CEBU, Philippines - A dead body of a female house helper was found stuffed inside a cabinet last Wednesday night in Veco Road, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

Investigators believed the perpetrator killed Carmela Berceno Arnejo, 64, after he failed to rob her by smashing her head.

Arnejo, a resident of the place, worked as house helper for Florence Veloso and at the same time she was selling flowers to augment her income.

Veloso told police that when she came home that night, she blew her car’s horn to call the attention of Arnejo to open the gate for her but there was no response from the latter.

Further, Veloso said she noticed that the lights in front of the house were not turned on making her suspicious, prompting her to call for assistance from her neighbors.

Aurelio Baylon, one Veloso’s neighbors, then accompanied her inside the house to look for Arnejo.

They went to Arnejo’s room and called her name several times but she did not respond. This prompted Veloso to call for police assistance.

Responding policemen SPO1 Arnolis Cabales and PO1 Alfredo Casas from Mobile Patrol Group searched the entire house and were surprised when they found Arnejo’s body stuffed inside a cabinet.

The victim was rushed to the nearby Gullas Medical Center for possible revival but she was declared dead by the attending physician.

The policemen found a broken flower pot inside the victim’s room which they believed was used by the assailant in killing her.

PO3 Julious Mabunay of Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office said that robbery is the most possible motive of the assailant, who reportedly was not able to steal an item from the victim before he escaped through the back portion of the house. — Niña G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)