CEBU CITY – Police are hunting a man who was tagged as a suspect in the killing of his wife, whose body was found inside a church in Liloan town, northern Cebu province.
Police said Ronnie Ligaray, 40, was accused of being responsible for the death of his 44-year-old wife Estela Leyte Ligaray.
Estela was found dead inside the Parish Church of San Fernando Rey on Friday morning, Oct. 24. Visible wounds were found on the woman’s head and neck and was bleeding from the nose.
The killing of the woman has prompted the Archdiocese of Cebu to order the closure of the church for reparation.
Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy said the church had to be closed due to a grave act of desecration.
Police Lt. Col. Dindo Alaras, chief of the Liloan police, said the victim’s sister came forward and pointed to the husband as a suspect in the crime.
Alaras said the husband was also seen in a security camera footage walking around three kilometers from the crime scene.
Police are checking reports that the man is mentally unstable.
It was learned that the man was previously arrested for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act.
Police said the man was released in September when his wife paid for his bail out of compassion.