Man admits killing wife; buries her under stilt house

PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines — Six days after murdering his wife, a man voluntarily surrendered to the police and admitted committing the crime inside their house in Barangay Kawit here.

Tricycle driver Jeanylito Chavez surrendered Thursday to the Pagadian City Police after he said he was “deeply bothered by his conscience” for killing his wife, Teresita Flores Chavez, whose body was under their stilt house.

Police investigator Corporal Gay Marie Morga said Chavez killed the victim on March 22 after a heated argument.

“In the course of their conversation, the husband punched the victim, causing her to fall on the ground, unconscious. He then strangled his wife to death and secretly buried her under their house,” Morga said.

The suspect was detained at the Pagadian City Police detention cell. Charges are now being prepared for filing in court.

The City Health Office has conducted a post mortem examination on Teresita’s remains, which now lie at the Gamalinda Funeral Home.

Neighbors said the suspect reported his wife as missing to the Barangay Hall and the local police. They said they heard the couple having heated arguments in the past.  /ee