Elderly couple found dead in house set on fire in QC

An elderly husband and wife were found dead at their residence which was set on fire in Barangay E. Rodriguez, Quezon City.

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s report on “24 Oras,” the bodies of the victims, aged 80 and 77, were found bloodied with head wounds inside the house

Their helper was the only person to have survived the fire with her suitcase in hand.

“Well actually, may dugo kasi kaya bandang ulo. Bahala investigator mag establish kung ano maimbestigahan, kung arson man yan o meron crime ginawa na yan, at sa pagtatago ng krimeng ginawa,” said Barangay Captain Marciano Buena-Agua.

(Well actually, there’s blood on their heads. It’s up to the investigator to establish whatever they could investigate, if it’s arson or if there’s a crime done there, and for trying to conceal the crime)

The helper was brought to the barangay, but tried to escape after informing that she was going to the bathroom.

She was quickly located and arrested while she was on her way to leave the area.

Investigations conducted by a special task group by the Quezon City Police District revealed that the fire was not the victims’ cause of death.

“Maaaring patay na yung mga biktima bago sinunog just to conceal the crime. Base sa sabi ng ating mga kasamahan sa Bureau of Fire and Protection ay hindi ang sunog ang cause of death at may na recover tayo dun na possible murder weapon na isang tubo na ginamit sa paghampas sa ulo ng biktima,” said QCPD Director Police Brigadier General Redrico Maranan.

(The victims could have already been dead before the fire just to conceal the crime. Based on what our colleagues at the Bureau of Fire Protection said, the fire is not the cause of death and we were able to recover a possible murder weapon, a pipe used to hit the victims on the head)

She is currently considered a suspect, with motives pointing toward robbery after P100,000 cash and jewelry was recovered from the helper’s suitcase.

“Narecover [din ang] isang ice pick [bilang ebidensya]. May narekober tayong mga pera at yung gamit niya ay talagang intact na, nakalagay na sa isang maleta. Ready to escape, ika nga,” Maranan added.

([We also] recovered an ice pick [as evidence]. We recovered cash and her things were all really intact, placed inside a suitcase. Ready to escape, as they say)

According to the QCPD, the victims’ children asked them to check on the victims who did not answer their calls.

The helper, the victims’ only companion for the past 2 years, refused to let the neighbors inside the house.

“Di pinapasok ng katulong kaya nagkaroon ng some sort of pagdududa, then later on biglang sumiklab yung sunog,” Maranan said.

(She didn’t let them in so it sparked some sort of suspicion, then later on the fire began)

Meanwhile, the helper denied the accusation.

“Kahit ano ginagawa niya sa akin, wala ako ginawa na masama. Di ko kaya yun,” said the suspect.

(Whatever they did to me, I didn’t do anything wrong. I can’t do that)

Further investigation on the incident, including the possibility of an accomplice, is still being conducted. —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/NB, GMA Integrated News