Ex-criminology student stabs aunt to death

CEBU, Philippines —  A former criminology student stabbed his aunt to death and wounded his aunt's relative in San Juan Purok 3, Barangay Bonbon, Aloguinsan, Cebu on Sunday afternoon.

The suspect was identified as James Harvey Kilaton Nengasca, 23, a resident of the place, who allegedly ran away with an undetermined amount of cash and pieces of jewelry that he took away from his aunt’s store.

The fatality was identified as Arsenia Nengasca Alidani, of legal age, and Alidani’s relative, identified as Belen Nengasca Biton, 53, who sustained wounds to her head and knees.

Report said that Nengasca followed his aunt, Alidani, to her store while she was on her way back from church.

Alidani resisted the suspect during the robbery, which resulted in her death.

According to the report, Nengasca stabbed his aunt using a pair of scissors while Biton, the second victim, tried knocking on the store after noticing a commotion inside.

The suspect reportedly grabbed her and tried covering her mouth resulting in a short scuffle between the two.

Fortunately, Biton was able to escape and shouted for help while Nengasca immediately fled from the crime scene with a pair of scissors, which was believed to be the murder weapon.

Aloguinsan Police Station is currently conducting a hot pursuit operation in coordination with different adjacent police stations for the immediate apprehension of the suspect.

Alidani sustained multiple stab wounds in different parts of her body and was declared dead on arrival while the second victim, Biton, suffered stab wounds to her head and knees, and is currently recuperating in the hospital

Both victims were brought to Pinamungajan District Hospital by rescuers from Aloguinsan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Cebu Police Provincial Office deputy director for operation, Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Gifter Sucalit, said that he received reliable information that Nengasca is an illegal drug user, which could be the reason behind the motive of the brutal killing.

“I received a reliable information nga ang subject is a drug user and we received information also nga naa jud siyay balak nga manguha,” Sucalit said.

“If you happen to see the photos, which (are) very graphic gyud siya, linuog ang pagpatay gyud. Dili siya himo sa usa ka normal nga tao, so dakong posibilidad nga tinuod ang information nga naggamit gyud ug ilegal nga drugas,” he added.

Sucalit was saddened after he found out that the suspect is a former criminology student.

“Unfortunately, he was a former criminology student. Mao lagi na atoang nakita, the same advocacy sa atoa, the same drive nga motabang sa ubang tao, and yet ingon ani ang nahitabo,” Sucalit said.

 “Naa tay team nga nag-track, padayun ang atoang pag-follow up sa suspetsado. Akong gi-awhag ang mga pamilya especially sa kaning atoang suspetsado, identified man ni, nga mo surrender siya, nga dili na siya mosukol sa atong kapulisan para peacefully masulbad ang kaso para mahatagan pud ug hustisya ang kamatayon sa biktima,” Sucalit said.

The suspect, who is facing possible robbery with homicide charges, is now the subject of a police operation. — Dominic I. Dilao, Correspondent, and Rubie Mae T. Sollano, CNU Intern, GMR (FREEMAN)