2 sisters charged for death of pregnant woman, son

CEBU CITY — For allegedly killing and robbing a pregnant woman and her two-year-old son in Lapu-Lapu City Sunday, two sisters may end up making history as the first female siblings who could be put to death for a heinous crime. Police in Lapu-Lapu filed yesterday criminal complaints against the sisters with the prosecutor’s office. Once the complaints reach the courts and the sisters are convicted, they could be put to death by lethal injection. The sisters, Marissa Alolor and Carmelita Alolor Sagarino, were arrested when Carmelita’s own husband Sonny led police to them. Marissa had worked as a maid for the victim, Imelda Peñafiel. Before that, she was implicated in the robbery of a trader in Lahug last year. Interviewed after her arrest, Marissa said she never planned to kill Peñafiel, saying she only asked for a P1,000 cash advance to pay the P500 she owed Carmelita but Peñafiel allegedly got mad and hit her with something hard.

Marissa said she got enraged and retaliated, stabbing the pregnant woman and killing her and the child she bore.

Marissa also allegedly stabbed Peñafiel’s son, Christopher, 2. The boy died Wednesday in a hospital.

Carmelita denied any involvement, saying she just stood outside the house the whole time of the incident.

When Marissa finally emerged from the house and ran, Carmelita said she merely followed her sister.

The victim’s husband, Alexis Peñafiel, said Marissa intended to rob her wife that day, taking Carmelita as an accomplice. Alexis said the suspects took a total of $11,000 and assorted jewelry valued at P400,000.

The complaints against the sisters were based on the sworn statements of another maid working for Peñafiel, Rosalie Cabaque, as well as that of the victim’s husband and six officers of the Vistabella Homeowners Association. Cabaque said Marissa and Carmelita arrived at the Peñafiel residence at about 10 p.m. Sunday. Minutes later, the two sisters started to hogtie Imelda and gagged her with masking tape. She said the suspects left her inside the stockroom of the house.

According to Cabaque, it was Carmelita who guarded and then stabbed Imelda in the left breast. She said Carmelita also threatened to kill her.

Cabaque was able to free herself and ask for assistance from the neighbors but the suspects had already fled. — Freeman News Service