Man kills wife, torches house

MANILA, Philippines – A man stabbed his wife to death and tried to hide the crime by setting their house on fire, which spread to 15 other houses in Cainta, Rizal Saturday morning.

Investigators found the charred remains of Lolita Contiga still tied to a post of the razed house in Barangay Anakpawis, Floodway, Cainta.

Witnesses said Lolita had an argument with her husband, Joel Contiga, 39, shortly before the arson. They also saw Joel stabbing their neighbors Josefilo Valmorez Jr. and Jess de Leon, who both tried to restrain him as he fled.

Contiga is at large.

The police said the couple’s 10-year-old daughter managed to escape the burning house before the suspect padlocked its door.