Suspect surrenders, admits killing woman, child

MANILA, Philippines — A suspect in the killing of a woman and her daughter in General Trias, Cavite on Dec. 11 surrendered yesterday.

Ruel Cabatingan, 36, was accompanied by his brother and a police officer at the Eastern Samar police office in Borongan at about 7:30 a.m.

Cabatingan admitted killing Ruby Gamos, 34, and her daughter Shaniah Nicole, 7, at the victims’ house in Barangay Navarro. The victims bore head injuries and strangulation marks.

Cabatingan said he stayed with his brother in Eastern Samar following the incident.

“He was pressured to surrender because authorities were looking for him,” Chief Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Eastern Visayas police director, said.

Operatives of the Cavite police flew to Eastern Samar yesterday to pick up Cabatingan for the filling of double murder charges and to secure an extrajudicial confession.

In an interview over ABS-CBN, Senior Superintendent William Segun, Cavite police director, said initial investigation showed Cabatingan and Gamos had an affair and she wanted to end their relationship.

“Prior to the incident, they were together,” Segun said.

Probers initially eyed robbery as the motive for the killing because the car, television, cell phone, gadgets and jewelry of the victims were missing.

Senior Superintendent Tranquilino Araral of the Eastern Samar police said they did not recover the missing items from Cabatingan.

Gamos’ husband Marlon, an overseas contract worker, arrived in the country two weeks ago and appealed to authorities to help him get justice for his wife and daughter.