Family offers PHP 50,000 bounty in La Paz killing of 89-year-old widow

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A monetary reward has been offered to anyone who can provide information on the whereabouts of the suspect who allegedly killed an 89-year-old widow in La Paz, Iloilo City.

Captain Gimel Acuesta, chief of Iloilo City Police Station 2, said the family of the victim, identified by the alias Virginia, is willing to give PHP 50,000 for any information that could lead to the suspect’s arrest.

The victim was found dead inside her house at Ledesco Village in Barangay Tabuc Suba, La Paz district, late in the evening of May 24.

The victim’s niece, Jean, sought police assistance to enter the house after the victim stopped answering her calls.

Together with the police, Jean’s sister, Merci Lou Jaranilla, entered the house and found the victim lying beside her bed.

She was unconscious and unresponsive, with no apparent signs of life.

The victim had two children — one based in Canada and the other in the United States.

She was living with a helper who went home every Sunday.

The victim’s US-based daughter saw on the household’s CCTV camera that her mother was no longer moving.

She then asked her cousin to check on the victim.

A review of the CCTV footage captured the suspect entering the house.

It was the elderly victim who opened the gate for him at around 8:05 a.m. Sunday.

Virginia knew the suspect, as he had previously worked for the family.

The CCTV footage also showed the suspect choking the victim to death.

He was also seen drinking water before leaving the house.

Acuesta said police identified the suspect as a certain Jerry, who lives in Barangay Guihaman, Leganes, Iloilo, but hails from Najus-an, Mambusao, Capiz.

After the incident, he went home and changed his shirt before leaving.

Police believe the suspect robbed the victim.

Jerry had recently been released from jail, where he was incarcerated for an illegal gambling case.