Jealousy, hatred eyed in murder of Capiz masseur

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Police are investigating jealousy and hatred as possible motives in the killing of a 28-year-old female masseur who was found dead inside a lodging house on Bilbao Street on Dec. 9.

Police Lt. Col. Ricardo Jomuad Jr., Roxas City police chief, said suspect Jericho Factolerin Llano, 23, a construction worker and resident of Barangay Mansacol, Sigma, Capiz, has been charged for killing his former 18-year-old live-in partner, alias Jenny, a masseur and resident of Barangay Bangon-Bangon, Sigma, Capiz.

Investigators said the suspect and victim had been in a relationship for three years, and the woman began working in Roxas City only in August, when Llano continued to force himself on her despite her resistance.

A female friend of the victim told police that the suspect had threatened to kill her before the incident.

The investigation showed that at around 10:21 p.m., the suspect checked in at the lodging house and requested a home-service masseur, selecting his former live-in partner.

CCTV footage showed the victim arriving at about 10:40 p.m., and at 10:56 p.m., the suspect was seen leaving Room 12, where they had checked in.

At around 1:15 a.m., a room boy went to inform the client that the stay had exceeded the allotted time.

No one answered the door, prompting him to open it.

He was shocked to find the woman lying inside the comfort room with a C2 bottle in her hand containing a chemical substance believed to be Racumin.

Police said the suspect is under hospital arrest.

He admitted to investigators that he forced his former partner to ingest rat poison and then choked her until she died.

Police added that he also consumed rat poison afterward due to depression and was brought to Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital for treatment.