Young widow stabbed to death by ‘lover’

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A young widow died in a knife attack inside her own home in Estancia, Iloilo early morning of July 17, 2023.

Dina Malata, 24, of NHA Pabahay in Barangay Tacbuyan, Estancia, succumbed to multiple stab injuries at Jesus Colmenares District Hospital in Balasan town.

The suspect, 45-year-old Rowel Sayson, married and resident of Barangay Poblacion Zone II, Estancia, surrendered to police at around 6 a.m. Monday.

Lieutenant Renzo Martinez, Estancia police chief, said the incident happened shortly after Sayson made an unannounced visit to Malata’s house.

Neighbors, some of whom are Malata’s relatives, claimed to have heard pounding on the victim’s door.

It allegedly took a while for Malata to open the door, which might have irked the drunk Sayson. He was allegedly begging the victim to open the door.

After several minutes, Malata did open the door for him.

Shortly later, Malata’s young son claimed to have seen her mother running away from their house while asking for help.

Sayson caught up with her after she slipped in an alley. They grappled until the suspect repeatedly plunged a knife into the victim.

The suspect immediately fled but turned himself in several hours later. The weapon he used was not recovered.

Prior to the incident, the two had been exchanging text messages.

Martinez claimed that the suspect apparently got jealous.

But the details were not elaborated.

He was also against the woman going to Metro Manila for work.

The suspect is now detained while a murder charge is being readied against him.