Woman admits masterminding brod’s killing

MANAOAG, Pangasinan — Unable to bear the guilt, a 51-year-old woman confessed to having masterminded the killing of her younger brother and gave herself up to authorities last Thursday, a day after he was buried.

Aurelia Castisimo, of Barangay Inamotan this town, even attended the burial of her brother Ruben, 43, last Wednesday. But her conscience bothered her, and she surrendered to the police the following day.

She said her brother would harm her and another sister whenever he got drunk. "Idiay katorpian na met laeng ti nangpatay kinya na (His bad attitude caused his life)," she was quoted as saying.

Ruben was last seen on May 11 in a drinking spree with neighbors Cesar Remigio and Florendo Bayaca. The following day, he was found dead in San Manuel, Tarlac, with a caliber .45 bullet in his forehead.

In a sworn statement, a relative of the Castisimos said he was privy to Aurelia’s plan to kill Ruben.

As early as 1999, Aurelia, he claimed, had asked him how to get the services of hired killers to execute the plot.

He said Aurelia and her sister plotted to kill Ruben because they could no longer bear his beatings whenever he was intoxicated.