Woman beaten to death in junkshop

MANILA, Philippines - A woman who worked as a stay-in employee of a junkshop in Quezon City was found half-naked and bludgeoned to death in her bedroom yesterday morning.

Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano Jr., Quezon City Police District (QCPD) homicide investigation chief, said they suspect Cristia Masbano had also been raped before she was killed at the LPP Junkshop, where she worked as a classifier, in Barangay Pasong Tamo.

Police have taken into custody five male junkshop employees, who were among those who last saw Masbano alive. Security guard Eumel de la Peña, 23; helpers Rodel Alindahao, 27, Ardonio Labiano, 30, Jerry Sembrano, 25; and receiving employee Jose Ropal, 25, all stay-in workers, were brought to the police station yesterday.

De la Peña claimed to be her secret lover for the last two months and that they had intercourse before he went on night duty at 2 a.m.

“In secret. Because it is forbidden by the owners of the company,” he said.

Crime scene investigators said Masbano’s head had been bashed in.

Sembrano, who found the body, told The STAR that the lower part of Masbano’s face was hit with a hard object.

According to police, Masbano was found on the bed, with her underwear and shorts beside her body. Her brassiere was disarranged, exposing one of her breasts.

Sembrano said Alindahao left without telling anyone after giving his statement to the QCPD. Police officers said Alindahao was nowhere to be found during a follow-up.

Sembrano told The STAR he last saw the victim alive before midnight drinking beer with Labiano and Alindahao. Sembrano said he was offered a drink but he chose to sleep early.

Maramag admitted the case would be a tough nut to crack because all they have are circumstantial evidence. “There are no direct witnesses so far,” he told The STAR.