CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A mother and her daughter were stabbed dead while a 12-year-old girl was in critical condition when two men broke into their rented apartment in Barangay Dolores early morning Wednesday.
City Police Chief Eden Ugale identified the victims as Cecille De Jesus, 34, married, and her daughter Cyla De Jesus, 11, residents of Quevedo Apartment, Road 5, Villa Barosa Phase 1.
The mother and daughter died on the spot due to multiple stab wounds while De Jesus' other daughter, Micka Mhae, 12, survived the attack.
As of this posting Wednesday, the young De Jesus was already in stable condition, her attending doctor said.
Micka Mhae identified one of the suspects as Jay-R Catangal, 25, a resident of the same village.
The police said the suspects entered the apartment at about 2 a.m. by climbing the concrete back fence of the apartment. They later pushed the kitchen door that was secured with three small sliding locks.
The suspects went upstairs and entered the bedroom, which was possibly left unlocked by the victims who were then sleeping. But the victims woke up prompting the suspects to stab the victims using an unknown bladed weapon.
The suspects, police said, hurriedly left carting off an undetermined amount of cash and the cellphones of the victims.
Chief Inspector Onofre Asuncion hinted that the motive of the killing seemed to be robbery. He explained that it was also murder since it was well planned.
Ugale, for his part, said the case was by far the biggest this year, after the Olalia murder case some two months back.
He disclosed the weapon used has not been recovered but a manhunt is in full swing to arrest the suspect.
The bodies of the victims were brought to RCD Manabat Funeral Parlor while De Jesus' husband, who is working abroad, has been informed of the incident. (Jovi T. De Leon with Marlon P. Beltran of Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)