Woman, young daughter found dead in shanty


CEBU CITY – A 41-year-old woman and her three-year-old daughter were found dead in a shanty in Barangay Balud, San Fernando town, Cebu province.

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Marittes Rosane Cabaluna and her daughter Ajalia Cabaluna had no external injuries when they were found lifeless past 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Police are investigating the cause of deaths but the possibility that the mother and daughter were poisoned floated after an insecticide was found outside their shanty.

The mother was last seen alive around 6 p.m. during a drinking session with her friend Dorlyn.

Dorlyn and her 15-year-old son left after the drinking session.

Police said Marittes was found in a prone position with vomit in front of her. Her daughter was found beside her.

Emergency responders brought the mother and daughter to the town hospital where they were declared dead.

The day after the incident, Dorlyn found an empty sachet of Lannate insecticide outside the shanty.

Police Major Michael Gingoyon, chief of the San Fernando Police Station, said a deeper investigation will be conducted to determine if there was foul play involved in the deaths.

Gingoyon said they have already advised an autopsy on the bodies to be conducted.

“The family is hesitant but we encouraged them to pursue the examination so we can determine the cause of death,” said Gingoyon.

Gingoyon said they will invite Dorlyn in the investigation to help shed light on the incident.

Police learned that Marittes and her live-in partner have separated.

Police said Dorlyn also became a subject of harassment after she allowed Marittes and her daughter to live in their house.

The mother and daughter were forced to live in the shanty after they were asked to vacate Dorlyn’s house. It was Dorlyn herself who discovered the mother and daughter lifeless in the shanty.

Dorlyn was able to record on video from the time she and her son left their house and went to the shanty to check on the mother and daughter.

In the video that she posted on Facebook, Dorlyn found the mother and daughter lying unconscious on their bellies.