Man nabbed for killing woman, rescue dog

MANILA, Philippines — A man was arrested for the grisly murder of a 29-year-old woman and her rescue dog in Malabon on Monday.

The boyfriend of Lovely Ann Villagomez discovered her body at her house on Monday night. Her neck bore strangulation marks. Beside her was her dog, which was also found dead with stab wounds.

In a press briefing yesterday, acting Northern Police District director Col. Ponce Peñones Jr. said suspect Jaemark Reyes was arrested at his grandparents’ house in Malolos, Bulacan yesterday.

Checking closed-circuit television footage, investigators found Reyes entering the victim’s house and leaving it wearing a different shirt an hour later.

Reyes then rode a tricycle to his grandparents’ house, police said. The suspect also faced illegal drug charges.

Malabon police chief Col. Albert Barot said Villagomez died of asphyxia due to strangulation.

Villagome adopted stray cats and dogs, her cousin Jessica Villar said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

“Her house was difficult to enter because of her pet dogs,” Villar said in Filipino.

Villagomez was found naked from the waist down, police said. Barot said they are waiting for the forensic examination to determine if the woman had been raped.

Mayor Jeannie Sandoval assured her constituents that justice will be served.

“I have personal feelings about this news, not only as a Malabon resident, but also as a woman,” Sandoval said in Filipino in a Facebook post.

“We will not let this grisly crime pass. I am with the victim’s family in seeking justice,” she added.