CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The suspect in the killing of a mother and her daughter in Barangay Dolores early on Wednesday surrendered to barangay chief Melchor Caluag.
The suspect, Jay-R Catangal, 25, a resident of Sitio Looban, who was accompanied by his family, Caluag, and relatives of the victims was presented before Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and police officials Wednesday evening.
Superintendent Eden Ugale, city chief of police said Catangal decided to surrender after he learned that he was being hunted down by authorities.
Ugale said Catangal, a resident of Sitio Looban, Dolores and a tri-wheeler driver was positively identified by a survivor of the robbery-slaying of Cecille De Jesus, 34, and her daughter Cyla De Jesus, 11. The two died on the spot due to multiple stab wounds.
The survivor, Mickae Mhae De Jesus, 12, who sustained some 25 stab wounds, according to investigators, pointed to Catangal as the suspect behind the murder of her mother and sister early dawn Wednesday.
Allegedly, the suspect entered the victims’ apartment around 2 a.m. by climbing the concrete back fence of the apartment and then strongly pushed the kitchen door secured by three small sliding locks.
The suspect, police said, hurriedly left for an unknown direction, carting off an undetermined amount of cash and the cellphones of the victims.
But hours after the incident, Caluag said he was able to identify the suspect and his whereabouts in Bamban, Tarlac where Catangal sought refuge in an aunt’s home.
During his surrender at Heroes Hall around 7:15 p.m., Catalan told Mayor Rodriguez that he was under the influence of alcohol when he allegedly stabbed the victims.
“Nakainom po ako at hindi ko alam kung bakit ko nagawa iyon,” Catangal told Rodriguez.
For his part, Rodriguez branded the twin slays as senseless. “It’s all senseless. Sayang ang buhay ng mga tao sa ganitong krimen. Rest assured justice will prevail.”
Rodriguez said the City Government will shoulder the funeral and hospitalization expenses of the victims and the survivor.
Meanwhile, Ugale said with the surrender of Catangal, the case is considered “closed” and solved. He said charges of double homicide and frustrated homicide with robbery will be filed against the suspect, who is now in their custody.(Jovi T. De Leon with a report from Ric Sapnu)