Medical school dean stabbed dead

MANILA, Philippines — A dean of a medical school was found dead, her body riddled with stab wounds, in her home in Las Piñas City before dawn yesterday.

 Dr. Harivelle Charmaine Tapaoan Hernando, 62, was found dead in the master’s bedroom of her home along Molave street in Doña Manuela Subdivision, Barangay Pamplona 3 at past 2 a.m., police said.

Hernando was the dean of the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta’s school of medicine.

 Her household helper Jovy Bandoy Asero sought help from the city police after hearing a commotion in Hernando’s room at around 2:30 am.

Asero told police that as she came out of the maid’s quarters, she saw a ladder connected to the second floor, where the master’s bedroom was located, and heard loud moans from within the room.

 Police officers had to smash the door of the master’s bedroom, which was locked. They found Hernando lying in a pool of blood.

 Her body was brought to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory for autopsy.

Police took custody of Asero, who is considered a person of interest in the case. 

 Investigators are currently looking into the possibility that Hernando’s former driver, whom she fired for allegedly using illegal drugs, killed her.

The driver, whom the police did not name, allegedly kept returning to the house to drive for the victim.