4 dead in Parañaque shooting incident

MANILA, Philippines – Four persons were found dead Monday afternoon inside their residence in Parañaque City in an apparent murder-suicide, the Parañaque police said.

Police said housemaid Jacky Ogaliso, 52, left the house after she was asked by Manolo Benigno, 45, to buy grocery items at around 12 p.m. Two hours later, she returned to the house but found that the gate had been locked.

According to police, Ogaliso then tried shouting outside the gate to call the attention of those inside the house but no one answered.

Relatives of the Benigno family then arrived at the house and forcibly opened it. Police said the relatives discovered Manolo’s wife, Diane Cristel inside a car with gunshot wounds in the head.

Their 14-year-old daughter was found lying on the sofa also with gunshot wounds in the head while the couple’s 9-year-old son was found in the bedroom also with gunshot wounds.

According to Col. Rogelio Rosales, Parañaque police chief, investigators are looking at the angle that Manolo shot dead his family before turning the gun on himself.

Recovered from the scene was a .45 caliber pistol, police said.

Rosales added that there were no signs of forced entry in the house. Rosales said that prior to the shootings, Manolo and his wife had a fight.

“Ang assessment namin mukhang nag-aaway. Paalis na yung babae,” Rosales told Radyo Inquirer in an interview on Tuesday.

Rosales added that prior to the incident, Manolo lost his job after he underwent a heart surgery.

“Initial findings namin yung lalaki wala ng trabaho na bypass [sa puso],” he said. /muf, je

Those who are suffering from mental health and need help may access the Department of Health’s National Center for Mental Health crisis hotline numbers 0917899-USAP (8727) or 989-USAP and Hopeline Philippines’ hotline numbers 804-4673, 09175584673 and 2919 (toll-free for Globe and TM subscribers).