Father surrenders after killing daughter’s live-in partner

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 36-year-old man has surrendered to police a day after fatally stabbing his 16-year-old daughter’s live-in partner in Iloilo City.

Police identified the suspect as alias Puyo, a resident of Barangay Zone 2, San Juan, Molo, Iloilo City, who turned himself in around 6:30 p.m. on October 20 at San Joaquin, Iloilo.

Puyo said he initially planned to flee to Antique province, where his wife’s relatives live, but changed his mind for his family’s safety.

He admitted to killing alias Toto, 26, also a resident of San Juan, following a knife attack on the morning of October 19.

The suspect expressed remorse to Toto’s family but said he had no regrets about what happened.

Puyo told police he surrendered because he feared retaliation from the victim’s relatives.

Investigators said the incident stemmed from repeated complaints that Toto had physically assaulted Puyo’s daughter.

A mediation meeting was scheduled that Sunday morning at the office of Barangay Captain Jose Martin Maloto.

When the girl’s parents arrived, Maloto immediately called Toto to appear before them.

Since the girl was not present, the barangay captain asked her parents to bring her to the meeting.

While waiting, Toto requested permission to temporarily go home, which Maloto allowed.

When the girl arrived, Maloto sent two barangay tanod (village watchmen) to fetch Toto.

Unbeknownst to them, Puyo had already left the barangay hall and followed them.

As Toto rode the tricycle with the two tanod, Puyo secretly climbed onto the rear portion of the vehicle.

He then attacked Toto, repeatedly stabbing him in the back and chest.

The victim sustained three stab wounds to his back and two to his chest, which led to his death.

Prior to the attack, witnesses said Toto had been drinking liquor at a friend’s house before returning to his rented room, where the girl allegedly broke a padlock to gain entry.

The landlady said the girl locked the room from the inside, preventing Toto from entering and took some of his belongings before leaving.

On the day of the killing, Toto had asked the landlady to accompany him in filing a complaint against his partner.

Although the girl previously filed a complaint for physical assault, police said she had also returned to Toto on her own accord.

Toto’s family, meanwhile, denied the girl’s allegations that she was a battered partner.