Man stabs live-in partner inside Iloilo City motel

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Family issues and financial woes allegedly drove a security guard to physically hurt his live-in partner in a knife attack early evening of Feb. 11 at La Paz, Iloilo City.

The incident happened while Grace, 32, of Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz, and Arnold, 42, of Barangay Alalasan, La Paz, were billeted at a motel in Barangay Divinagracia, La Paz.

According to Captain Marlon Perez, Iloilo City Police Station 2 chief, they received a phone call from a staff of Anita Lodge claiming that a male person was holding a knife while inside Room 72.

Just as responding policemen arrived at the area they heard a woman screaming for help.

Accompanied by the lodge’s staff, policemen forcibly entered the room and caught Arnold with a knife.

Grace, on the other hand, had stab wounds on her body. While pointing at the man, she uttered, “Ginbuno ‘ya ako” (He stabbed me.)

Policemen arrested the suspect while members of the Iloilo City Emergency Team (ICER) brought the victim to the hospital.

Perez said Grace sustained five stab wounds on her stomach, two on her left hand, and one on her finger.

Perez said the suspect told investigators that he wanted to win back Grace.

The victim, an overseas Filipino worker, arrived in the country for almost a month already but hasn’t returned to their home.

“Nagalit ang suspect dahil ayaw makipagbalikan ng victim,” Perez said.

Arnold’s anger was also fueled by the woman’s refusal to give him P5,000, which he claimed he would use for the renewal of his security guard license.

The couple was fully dressed when policemen arrived.

“The suspect also got angry because the woman refused to be intimate with him,” Perez added.

Reports said it was something that he asked from Grace since it was his birthday on Monday, Feb. 12.

But instead of receiving a gift, Arnold spent his birthday behind bars.

He will be charged with frustrated homicide in relation to Republic Act 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004).