Widower arrested for in-law’s slay

CABANATUAN CITY , Philippines  â€“ Police arrested over the weekend a 42-year-old widower for allegedly killing his sister-in-law, whose body was placed in a sack and dumped in a river in Nueva Ecija.

Alexander Sabado was nabbed by members of the local police in Barangay San Cristobal in Licab town, said Senior Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves, provincial police director.

Nieves said Sabado confessed to the murder of Marietta Isona, 39, who was found floating in the Labong River in Barangay Villarosa on Feb. 6.

A day after Isona’s body was found, the local police questioned Sabado about the crime, but he denied involvement in the killing, said Senior Inspector Ador Depnag, town police chief.

Depnag said on Feb. 8, the suspect was rushed to the Sto. Domingo District Hospital after he reportedly tried to commit suicide by drinking poison.

While at the hospital, Sabado reportedly admitted to the police officers that he killed Isona.

He told investigators that he and the victim were lovers and that they met near the river on Feb. 3. He said they had a quarrel and he punched the woman, who was knocked unconscious.

Thinking he had killed her, Sabado said he placed her body inside a sack and threw her into the river.