Widow stabbed to death inside house; robbery seen as motive with suspect’s arrest

By Jennifer P. Rendon

An 86-year-old widow was found dead inside her home early afternoon of April 12, 2022.

Marina Borra, a resident of Barangay Calaboa Este, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo suffered at least two stab injuries – one on her left breast and another in the middle of her chest.

She was believed to have been dead for two days when her youngest son, 54-year-old Ramil Borra, and their tenant, Melchor Mendez, found her inside her room.

Staff Sergeant Francis Guaro, the police investigator on case, said Marina was lying face down and was bathed in her own blood.

Marina’s body was discovered after Mendez went to her house to fetch water.

Guaro said the victim was living with Ramil inside their three-bedroom family house.

Ramil claimed he last saw his mother alive Sunday while she was watching television.

When he didn’t see her on Monday, he thought that she went to his sister’s house in the neighboring Barangay Magancina.

Guaro described Ramil to be alcoholic and might have been drunk days prior to his mother’s death.

Mendez allegedly roused Ramil from sleep after he smelled foul odor inside the house.

They looked for the source of the putrid odor and were eventually led to Marina’s room.

Meanwhile, the Sta. Barbara PNP already arrested the suspect in Marina’s death.

John Lloyd Mahilom, 20, a resident of Barangay Calaboa, Leganes, Iloilo, was arrested 2:00 p.m. of April 13 at Barangay Calaboa Este.

Mahilom’s family coordinated with the local police after he asked for money, which he will use in fleeing.

The police earlier said that robbery could be the motive of the incident due to some items inside the victim’s house that went missing – two cellphones, P150,000 cash, and assorted jewelries valued at P400,000.

The elderly victim was into the rice trading and lending business. She also owned a vast farmland and one of her children is working abroad.