Philippines
American husband under investigation after Pinay's body found in shallow grave in Negros
American husband under investigation after Pinay's body found in shallow grave in Negros
Police Major Roger Quijano, Valencia police chief, said the 55-year-old American voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Wednesday, July 20, a day after his wife was found, and was subjected to interrogation.
He is considered a person of interest, thus, his name was withheld pending the investigation, according to Quijano.
Quijano said the body of the American’s wife, a 32-year-old nurse from Barangay Junob, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, was found partially buried in their property after her friends reported her missing to the police when they have not heard from her since Sunday, July 17.
He said the victim's friends had an intuition that something might have happened to her since they could not reach her for several days already.
Prior to the grim discovery, the victim left them a letter stating that if something happens to her, they should look for a certain person, referring to her husband, Quijano said.
Her friends along with the police went to the couple’s property in Valencia where they frequently go and found her decomposing body there.
Quijano said that based on the physical wound of the victim, police suspected that she may have been hit by a hard object and she will be subjected to autopsy.
He, however, refused to elaborate specific details on how the victim was killed, but said that the victim might have been buried for about two to three days already.
Quijano said they are looking into property dispute or love triangle as possible motives in the incident since the husband allegedly has a new lover.
“As of now, the case is still under investigation,” Quijano said, adding that they will coordinate with the NBI to help them in the investigation.
The custody of the two children of the couple aged seven and 10 have been turned over to the victim’s sister who is from Davao City.
The Siliman University College of Nursing Association, in a Facebook post, expressed their deep sadness and regret over the passing of an alumna.
They remembered the victim as a woman filled with love, laughter, and life; who was bold yet cheerful and had never failed to make herself available to the people around her; a friend who always went the extra mile and unceasingly shared her words of wisdom, affirmation, and life advices; and a mother who unconditionally loves her two daughters and sacrificially does anything just to build and nourish her.