Couple stabbed dead, robbed in Dalaguete

CEBU, Philippines — Police have eyed robbery as the motive in the murder of a former barangay councilor and his wife inside their home in Barangay Langkas, Dalaguete town Monday night.

The victims were identified as Servando Ramos, 57, and Ana Maria Grace Ramos, 45, while the suspects were cousins Antonio "Dodong" Jabagat, 48, and Alejandro "Alo" Jabagat, 25, both residents of the area.

The 12-year-old adopted daughter of the victims was also wounded during the incident.

Chief Insp. Rolan Aliser, chief of Dalaguete police, said that the couple came from a fiesta in the neighboring barangay.

Aside from being a former barangay official, Servando was reportedly financing a gambling game called cara y cruz.

"Known ni siya nga financier og cara (y cruz).  Mao man na uso sa bukid and didto daw sa ila gipyestahan murag dili sad sigurado kung nagpasiuna sila didto," Aliser said.

When they arrived home past 8 p.m., the suspects knocked and asked to lend money. Around this time, the 12-year-old girl was in her room.

The child heard a commotion coming from the sala of their house.

She went outside to check and saw her parents sprawled on the floor with multiple stab wounds.

The suspects noticed her presence and Alejandro ran to attack her.

The child ran outside and hid behind the bushes and waited until she heard the suspects left the crime scene.

She then ran to another barangay councilor's house and asked for help.

She was brought to a hospital and now in stable condition after a surgery to close a stab wound in the stomach. A police officer is watching over her as she is a vital witness to the crime.

Aliser said that robbery is being considered as the motive since a bag of the couple which contains at least P50,000 cash is missing.

However, their pieces of jewelry were intact.

Aliser said police conducted a hot pursuit operation ensued in the hinterland of Dalaguete but they failed to arrest the suspects.

Checkpoints were also established and policemen were deployed in Argao wharf which is a gateway to Bohol.

Inspections were also conducted at the Cebu City South Bus Terminal.

Aliser said habal-habal driver Vicente Jabagay who is Alejandro’s brother and was seen ferrying the suspects to the highway is now in police custody as he is considered as accessory to the crime.

The suspects will be facing charges of robbery with homicide and frustrated murder. — MBG (FREEMAN)