A 39-year-old woman on Monday morning was allegedly beaten to death with a piece of wood by a man believed to be suffering from a mental illness.
Victim Maria Luz Paduhilao, a resident of Barangay Poblacion Norte in Batuan, sustained several wounds throughout her body and head which were allegedly inflicted by one Saturnino Dango, 32.
According to PO3 Daryl Yecyec of the Batuan Police Station, the incident started when Dango was taken to the house of his father in Poblacion Norte due to his perceived mental condition.
Dango, while left unattended, reportedly was able to leave his father’s house wielding a three-foot, two by three piece of wood as he wandered off in the village.
Authorities believe that the suspect merely came across Paduhilao by chance and may have attacked her unprovoked.
Paduhilao was then spotted by passersby sprawled on the ground, while the suspect immediately fled the crime scene.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
According to Yecyec, the suspect was spotted and arrested by responding police officers on the same day.
Dango is now held at the Batuan Police Station lock-up jail pending the filing of charges against him.
Yecyec noted that Dango may be suffering from harmful effects of alcohol abuse as the suspect reportedly was drunk almost daily and was always skipping meals. (Allen Doydora)