Negros Occ crimes: Man eats grandma’s heart; another stabs family

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – A 19-year-old man killed his octogenarian grandmother, then ripped out her heart and ate it, in their residence at a hinterland village in Kabankalan City on Tuesday, August 4.

Superintendent Herman Garbosa, city police chief, identified the fatality as Olivia Jalaman, 85, of Purok Kabukiran, Barangay Tapi.

Garbosa said that the victim was butchered by her grandson identified as Ruben Jalaman, an out-of-school youth. The killing happened at around 2 am, and was discovered by neighbors at around 6 am.

The police chief said the victim was found with her chest cut open, while neighbors found the suspect still sleeping in their house after the incident.

Garbosa said that the suspect admitted to the killing: “Trip niya lang [daw] patayin ang lola niya at kainin ang puso nito.” (He said he killed his grandmother and ate her heart because he felt like doing it.)

The suspect, according to Garbosa, claimed that his grandmother was a witch.

Garbosa said that they recommended the suspect to undergo a psychiatric examination, though the suspect showed no signs of mental illness when he was apprehended. “He answered questions like a normal person would,” he said.

The suspect will be subjected to a drug test, too, he added.

The suspect is now detained at the Kabankalan City Police Office, pending the charges to be filed against him.

Twin murders in Silay

In Silay City also on Tuesday, a 21-year-old man allegedly killed his live-in partner and their 9-month-old son in their home in Sitio Paradise, Barangay Rizal.

Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion, acting director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, identified the suspect as Ed Augustin Ortilla, who allegedly stabbed his live-in partner Sakura Hanna Jimenea, 20, and their baby, Ace Ortilla.

Nacion said that both victims were brought to the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, but Jimenea was declared dead upon arrival. The baby was transferred to a hospital in Bacolod City but he expired hours later.

Jimena succumbed to stab wounds on her chest while the baby was fatally stabbed on his left abdomen.

Initial investigation indicated that the suspect had not eaten for 2 to 3 days and was high on drugs. The suspect believed that his partner was cheating on him.

The suspect is now detained at the Silay City Police Station, pending the charges to be filed against him.

Drop in crime rate

These incidents happened as the provincial police recorded a drop in the crime volume in the first 6 months of the year. From 17,284 in January to June in 2014, the number of crime committed dropped to 12,822 over the same period this year.

Records at the provincial police showed that index crimes – which include murder, homicide, carnapping, physical injury, rape, robbery, and theft – were down by 26.26% this year. The total index crime volume this year was pegged at 5,561, compared to last year’s 7,541 incidents. 

Non-index crimes – which include apprehensions on illegal drugs, illegal gambling, and illegal firearms – also decreased by 25.48%. A total of 7,261 non-index crimes were reported this year, as compared to last year’s 9,743.

The provincial police conducted 122 anti-drugs operations in the first 6 months this year, resulting in the arrest of 167 persons and the filing of 129 cases in court.

On August 1, the provincial police seized P6 million worth of illegal drugs in Kabankalan City. It is believed to be the biggest drug haul in the province this year. – Rappler.com 

Mouth image via ShutterStock.