Cops nab maid tagged in Indian daughter's slay

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A housemaid, tagged in the killing her Indian employer's daughter last year, was arrested by police operatives in a village east of this city, an official said on Thursday.

Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo, city police director, said the suspect, Vanessa Diaz Manuel, 21, was collared Tuesday at her residence in Barangay Cabaluay by the combined elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Management (CIDM) with the strength of warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 15 Judge Peter Eisma.

The court has recommended a bail of P40,000.00 for her temporary liberty.

De Ocampo said the accused was charged in the alleged killing of Nirmal Kour, 17, while she was still working as housemaid with the victim’s family at Barangay Guiwan last year.

De Ocampo said that in the investigation, Diaz denied the charges and allegations, saying that during the incident, two unidentified men reportedly barged in the rented apartment of the victim where she was working and beat both of them, killing Kour.

But the investigators, De Ocampo said, found no trace that there was third party involved, citing that the apartment was guarded by a dog during the time of the incident.

The police official said they were validating the information that the killing was prompted when the suspect was allegedly caught by the victim in the act of stealing valuables.

De Ocampo said the suspect has been released after she posted bail.