Designer’s death a ‘crime of passion’, says police
THE Mandaue City police chief said the murder of Cebu designer Joy Bernaldez and the suicide of the boyfriend who shot her was a “crime of passion.”
Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac said the case is considered closed as far as identifying the parties responsible.
However, Mandaue police are verifying the nationality of Joseph Cardona, the man who shot dead Bernaldez over a relationship gone sour, in her home in Mandaue City Saturday night.
The Australian consular office called up to ask for a copy of Cardona’s passport in order to extend assistance to his family, if indeed Cardona is a national of that country.
His body remained unclaimed in the morgue of the Rolling Hills funeral home in Mandaue although family members in Australia were earlier notified.
Cardona was divorced. His former wife and children live in Australia.
Insp. Ramil Morpos, deputy chief of the Investigation and Detection Management Branch (IDMB), told Cebu Daily News Cardona’s driver’s license indicated his nationality was Maltese.
Earlier police reports described Cardona, who lived with Bernaldez in Mandaue City, as Australian. The couple met two years ago in Australia, where the designer had relocated with her family.
The Cebuana designer was shot dead at home after an argument past 6 p.m. She had complained to police two weeks earlier about being physically manhandled by Cardona.
On Saturday morning, Bernaldez had Cardona’s clothes and belongings moved out of the house to a pension house.
Morpos said police will coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration and the Bernaldez family in securing Cardona’s passport.
He said Emerita Alegro, consular officer of the Australian embassy, called up and said they will coordinate with the Maltese embassy to check as well.
Police took statements from Bernaldez’s son and household staff who were at home when the shootings occured. The family driver said Cardona had fits of jealousy and would get angry when Bernaldez would come home late.
Gillamac said police will conduct a ballistic examination on the remains of both victims and the caliber .22 revolver used in the killings. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos
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