Hunt on for young wife's killers in brutal slay as househelp survives attack
A 34 year-old Ilongga businesswoman was brutally murdered inside her home in a plush subdivision in Oton, Iloilo.
On record as the latest casualty of a gruesome killing in Iloilo, authorities identified the victim as Claire Sta. Cruz-Nueros of Block 14, Lot 17, Savannah Subdivision.
Forces of the Oton Philippine National Police (PNP) are now on the hunt for Nueros' attackers. The News Today (TNT) learned though that elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) here have also joined the manhunt with the culprits' description provided by a survivor of the attack.
The incident, TNT learned, reached Oton police about 11 p.m. Sunday. First police blotter entry was then entered into the logbook about 2 a.m. yesterday detailing what the police gathered on the crime scene.
Savannah Subdivision security called for police assistance when told by the victim's househelp of the incident. Oton Police Chief, Senior Inspector Vicente Castor Jr. with Senior Police Officer 3 (SPO3) Pedro Embalsado, Police Officer 3 (PO3) Hermino Fuentespina, PO3 Jose Rey Pabalan, PO1 Lucindo Noca and PO1 Ernie Mallorca immediately responded.
Reported as a 'home invasion,' survivor Charmaine Larucay told police that the incident occurred about 9 p.m. Larucay said her employer was working on the laptop computer while she was washing the dishes when two armed men barged through the kitchen door. They were then ordered to turn off the lights, mouths taped and hands tied.
The suspects, Oton police gathered, were armed with "unidentified long arms," medium-built, believed to be in late 20s to early 30s with one wearing a fatigue-type pants. And just like the stereo-typed robbers, both were also reportedly in black jackets and sweatshirts.
It was not included in the police blotter that the two were also covered with a bonnet or face masks yet said information was gathered by radio station Bombo Radyo Iloilo.
Nueros was hogtied and hit on the head as evidenced of head trauma and head injuries. Larucay on the other hand told police that she too was hogtied and placed in a separate room yet managed to untie herself and seek help from subdivision security.
She said she was shocked to see her employer bloodied and apparently lifeless.
It was not to be the first robbery incident in Savannah yet the most violent and thus gruesome thus far.
The crime scene is about seven kilometers away from the town proper.
Police theorized that the suspects gained entry at the back portion of the subdivision which do not have fence yet. It was learned that no security guard is posted in the area and it was only covered by roving guards.
The 34 year-old victim, TNT also learned, was involved in a lending business and was in the middle of an annulment case.
As of press time, no suspects have been named by either the Oton PNP or the CIDG. Also lost in the incident were undetermined amount of cash, the victim's laptop computer and jewelries.