ICPO links jealousy to brutal Arevalo teen killing

By Jennifer P. Rendon

ILOILO CITY — Police investigators are looking at jealousy, or what they described as a crime of passion, as the motive in the brutal killing of an 18-year-old man in Arevalo district.

Police Col. Wilbert Parilla, Iloilo City police chief, said jealousy apparently drove 18-year-old alias Agi to kill 18-year-old Aaron.

“There’s a third party of the part of the victim. They broke up after a three-year relationship kaya nagalit ang suspect,” Parilla said.

Agi was arrested along with 19-year-old alias Cris, his best friend.

Parilla said police have a witness who pointed to Cris as the person who provided Agi with a weapon.

“She knew of the suspect’s plan. Initially, she gave him a small knife but later changed to a bigger one,” he added.

Aaron died a few hours after what police described as a planned attack on the evening of Aug. 30 at Zone 10, Barangay Calaparan, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

Before he died shortly after midnight Aug. 31, Aaron was able to identify Agi as his attacker.

The incident was discovered after a resident heard a cry for help coming from an “uma,” or a secluded area, in Barangay Calaparan.

The resident rushed to the area and found Aaron tied to a tree with a knife embedded in his face.

The Iloilo City Police Station 6 received the call at 10:25 p.m. Sunday.

The victim was brought to Western Visayas Medical Center but died more than an hour later.

Parilla said the two suspects were arrested immediately after the incident was discovered.

Agi was arrested at his home after he had allegedly washed the clothes he wore during the attack.

Police said it was not the first time Agi and Aaron had met in the same area.

Agi allegedly paid Aaron PHP 1,000 for each encounter.

Police said that on that particular Sunday, Agi had planned to kill Aaron.

The suspect allegedly messaged Cris and disclosed his plan to physically harm the victim.

When Agi and Aaron met at the “uma,” the former tied the latter to a tree, which police said was apparently something they had done during previous encounters.

With Aaron tied to the tree, Agi allegedly told him that he did not have the PHP 1,000 payment.

Police said this angered Aaron, who allegedly threatened to kill Agi if he managed to free himself.

Agi then allegedly stabbed the victim repeatedly in different parts of his body.

The final stab struck the left side of Aaron’s face, just below his eye.

Police said Agi could not pull out the knife after it became lodged in Aaron’s facial bone.

Parilla said the victim may have momentarily lost consciousness.

Believing Aaron was dead, Agi allegedly fled and went home.

Shortly after 10 p.m., Aaron regained consciousness and was able to call for help.

Police had initially described the attack as premeditated while investigators continued working to establish the motive.