Shoe factory owner slain in Marikina

A 67-year-old owner of a shoe factory was stabbed dead while his wife was seriously wounded during a robbery attempt staged by the brother of their housemaid in Marikina City last Sunday.

Gerry Alcantara, owner of the Philippine subsidiary of Bandolino shoes and a resident of Barangay Marikina Heights, died while being rushed to the St. Vincent Medical Center.

He sustained multiple stab wounds in the body.

His wife, Aida, 67, was stabbed in the back and is now fighting for her life at the Medical City in Pasig City.

The suspect, identified as Jhun Diaz, 31, escaped after the attack.

Marikina police held for questioning the suspect’s younger sister, Marissa, 24, who has been working as the couple’s housemaid for almost two months.

Case investigator PO2 Glen Aculana said the couple was left in the house after the maid and the family driver attended afternoon Mass.

At 5:10 p.m., Mrs. Alcantara was washing dishes in the kitchen when the suspect barged in and stabbed her with a knife in the back.

Though wounded, she was able to run to the bathroom. She locked the door before the suspect could catch her.

She then warned her husband not to come out of his room.

"Gerry, huwag kang lalabas ng kuwarto," the wife shouted.

However, Alcantara did not heed the warning.

As he emerged from the room, the suspect ran toward him and repeatedly stabbed him.

The wife continued to scream for help, prompting the suspect to flee and leave behind the fallen Alcantara.

Concerned neighbors rushed the couple to the hospital.

Later, neighbors complained to Marikina City Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando that the police arrived late.

The wife recognized the suspect through a picture shown to her by the maid a few months back.

The maid admitted that the suspect was her brother, but said he left for the province last week.

She said she borrowed P1,000 from Mrs. Alcantara last week for her brother’s bus fare to their town in Samar.

"Nakasakay na daw ito sa bus sa Cubao terminal nang iniwan niya noong Huwebes," an investigator said.