Construction worker faces murder rap in partner’s death

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ — A 23-year-old construction worker is facing a murder charge for killing his former 18-year-old live-in partner early Tuesday, Dec. 9, inside a lodging house here.

The Capiz Police Provincial Office, through the Roxas City Police Station, is expected to file the case on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 10, before the City Prosecutor’s Office against Jericho Factolerin Llano, 23, a resident of Barangay Mansacol, Sigma, Capiz.

Police said Llano is under hospital arrest after allegedly ingesting pesticide before surrendering to authorities Tuesday afternoon.

Roxas City police chief Lt. Col. Ricardo Jomuad Jr. said investigators have resolved the case involving the death of the victim, identified only as alias Jenny, of Barangay Bangon-Bangon, Sigma.

Llano surrendered at the Roxas City Airport Police Station around 1 p.m. the same day.

He admitted to investigators that he forced his former partner to ingest rat-killer powder and choked her until she died.

Police said he also consumed rat poison afterward due to depression and was taken to Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH) for treatment.

The victim was discovered by a lodging house room attendant at about 1:45 a.m. when he attempted to wake her and found her unresponsive inside the comfort room.

Members of the Roxas Emergency Response Team checked her condition and transported her to the RMPH, where she was declared dead on arrival.

Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered a plastic bottle containing black powder beside the victim, which they believe was the substance forced into her mouth.

Investigators also noted hematoma marks on the victim’s neck, indicating she had been choked.