How it happened

THERE were 10 people in the household Saturday night, including Joy Bernaldez’s son and two young grandchildren, said police.

Bernaldez came home about 6 p.m. Saturday with her driver from her boutique.

Joseph Cardona, her Australian partner, was already there waiting for her, said police.  The couple argued, but no  voices were  raised.

The Australian went upstairs to the middle guest room, where he turned off the lights and kept the door open.

Shortly after, Bernaldez went upstairs heading for her room to get her laptop to greet her 10-year-old grandson  from Australia who was celebrating his birthday.

At the top of the stairs, near the open room of the Australian, she was shot once in the head.  She fell on her back on the wooden floor.

Immediately after the gunfire, Cardona went to the living room with the pistol in his hand, looking for Bernaldez’s son, Jose Mariano Climaco, who was relaxing with his Korean wife. Climaco was able to run out the building.

Climaco’s two children, aged 2 and 3, were in an upstairs bedroom with a nanny. The family driver and two househelpers with their spouses were in the kitchen.

Cardona tried to run after Climaco but couldn’t find him. At that point, the Australian reportedly put the gun barrel in his mouth and pulled the trigger once.

The family driver, upon hearing the second gunshot, said he went out and found Cardona lying on his belly in the garagae three to five meters from the main door.  The driver immediately called the police.

Paramedics of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation tried to revive Cardona, who had a faint pulse, but he didn’t make it.