After 21 years, man arrested for ‘masterminding’ wife’s death

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

After two decades of evading arrest, a man accused of masterminding the death of his wife was arrested morning of January 18, 2021 in Tubungan, Iloilo.

Joemarie Calugas, 59, a resident of Barangay Victoria, Tubungan, was collared at Zone 2, of the said town a week after he arrived from Saipan, according to Lieutenant Jose Romel Samson, Tubungan police chief.

Calugas was charged for parricide and a warrant of arrest was issued against him by Judge Teodulo Colada on October 20, 1999.

No bail was set for his temporary freedom.

Police accounts claimed that Calugas hired someone from Iloilo to kill his wife on May 18, 1999.

The victim’s body was found in a creek at Barangay Victoria.

Calugas went into hiding after the incident. He allegedly went to Saipan for more than 20 years where he got a maintenance job at a golf course.

Calugas was eventually tagged as Tubungan’s second most wanted person.

He went home last week after learning that the case against his brother-in-law, who was his co-accused, was dismissed.

Samson said Calugas denied the accusation. The suspect also remained single while hiding.

The couple had one child who lives in Guimaras province.

Calugas is presently in the custody of Tubungan Municipal Police Station for proper disposition of his case.