Lover arrested for student's death

CEBU, Philippines - A 19-year-old college student was shot dead allegedly by her 41-year-old live-in partner on Wednesday evening in Barangay Cogon Pardo, Cebu City.

Mary Luz Candoli, a freshman Hotel and Restaurant Management student of a university located at the downtown area, succumbed to a lone gunshot wound on her chest.

The bullet reportedly exited at the back portion of the victim’s body, which investigators believed to have caused her immediate death.

The victim was reportedly shot at around 8 p.m. inside the house of her lover, Julito Ponce, a plumber, at Sitio Laguna 2, of the said barangay.

The couple has been living together for almost two years.Ponce, of Sitio Ramblon, Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City, visits the victim two to three times each week and reportedly pays for the victim’s college tuition.

Marisol, 24, the victim’s sister, told The FREEMAN, that she received a disturbing text message from Mary Luz a few minutes before the incident, prompting her to rush to her sister’s room.

When she arrived, the bloodied body of Mary Luz was already lying on the ground.

Marisol immediately shouted for help.

Jeremias Sultan, 25, the caretaker of Ponce’s internet cafe located beneath the crime scene, rushed to the victim’s room and then immediately sought police assistance from Pardo Police Station.

A cal. 45 pistol, with four live rounds, were recovered near the victim’s bloodied body.

Mary Luz was already dead when responding medical personnel arrived. Sultan said he heard a loud bang from the victim’s room which he disregarded. 

In a separate interview, Ponce denied the allegations and said the victim committed suicide by shooting herself.  (FREEMAN)