Cabbie kills pregnant partner

MANILA, Philippines — A taxi driver stabbed dead his pregnant partner and her niece in Mandaluyong City on Monday night.

Police identified the fatalities as Ma. Rosula Paunil, 40, who was five months pregnant, and her 11-year-old niece Jessa May.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Moises Villaceran said Paunil suffered 10 stab wounds. The girl was stabbed 12 times.

Moises said the bodies of the victims were found wrapped in a blanket at Unit 205 of Lopez Ridgeway Residences along Dansalan street in Barangay Barangka Ilaya.

Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Biay ordered a manhunt for Benjamin Pardenez Jr., who fled after the killing.

Security guard Ricky Urbina told police that he saw Pardenez leaving the condominium at around 6:15 p.m.

Urbina said he received a phone call from the suspect, confessing to him that he killed Paunil and her niece.

Probers said they were eyeing jealousy as a possible motive for the killings.