Suspect in attack on widow, 3 kids caught

MANILA, Philippines -  A man accused of killing a widow and stabbing her three children last Monday was arrested by Caloocan police yesterday as he was waiting for a bus that would take him to his home province of Pangasinan.

Ivan Lou Climaco, 28, was caught at around 7:45 a.m. on Camachile Road near the boundary of Caloocan and Quezon City, according to Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, who heads the Station Investigation and Detection Management Bureau.

Climaco allegedly stabbed dead his neighbor, Ana Agullo, and wounded her three children – Justine Ann, 15; Arvin John, 13; and Alfer John, 11 – while the victims were having breakfast in their house on Reparo street in Baesa.

Police investigators said Climaco was set to flee to Bayambang town in Pangasinan when the police, acting on a tip, spotted him walking towards the northbound lane of the North Luzon Expressway.

Unknown to Climaco, Agullo’s brother-in-law, Antonio Alejandro, had been stalking him after learning of his plans to hide in the province. Alejandro was the one who told the police of the suspect’s whereabouts, a source said.

Mayor Enrico Echiverri personally handed a P100,000 reward to Alejandro, who identified Climaco during a press briefing at the city hall yesterday.

Echiverri promised to shoulder the expenses for Agullo’s burial and the medical bills of her children. Doctors said they remain in critical condition at the Manila Central University Hospital.

Conflicting claims

In his cell at the Caloocan police station, Climaco admitted his crime and aired his side to television reporters, but when pressed for details by The STAR, he said he could not remember what happened.

Police sources said Climaco was high on shabu when he attacked Agullo and her children. They said Climaco has a pending rape case before a local court and reportedly settled another rape case with the victim’s family. Climaco denied the allegations.

Police said Climaco incurred debts when he played video karera, an illegal numbers game, at her house. The suspect allegedly asked for another loan Sunday night, but Agullo refused until he paid his outstanding debt, according to her sister, Lucy Alejandro. Investigators believe this was the reason she was killed.

Police said it is not clear whether Agullo owned the video karera machine or maintained it for an illegal gambling operator.