A 63-YEAR-OLD woman died after she was struck and burned to death by her "mentally-ill" son in their residence in Barangay Cabadiangan, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental on Sunday, November 11.

The victim was identified as Gloria Eseng.

Chief Inspector Anthony Grande said the victim was sitting inside their house, along with her three grandchildren aged six, seven, and eight years old when the suspect, Rolando Eseng, 42, suddenly hit her forehead with a shovel four times.

When the victim was unconscious, Rolando dragged his mother to the comfort room, five meters away from their house, where he lighted the coarse grasses and burned her.

The victim’s grandchildren, including the suspect’s eight-year-old son, witnessed the incident. They immediately called for help.

The suspect’s son went to his aunt’s house and informed her about the incident.

When the aunt arrived, along with the village watchmen, they saw Rolando and immediately arrested him.

Rolando was then brought to the police station for custody.

Grande said the suspect is aware that he killed his mother and claimed he only did the crime because he thought his mother was an “aswang” (shapeshifting evil spirit).

The suspect, prior to the incident, had not eaten and slept for three days. He held bladed weapons for an unknown reason, said Grande.

He said Rolando's family recently noticed the sudden change in the suspect's behavior when his wife left him in 2016.

The family is willing to pursue parricide charges against the suspect, who was isolated from other detainees in the custodial facility, added Grande.