MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga––Police arrested a construction worker after allegedly manhandling his live-in partner and setting her house on fire on Oct. 23 in Aguso village, Tarlac City, a belated police report disclosed.
The Tarlac police identified the suspect as Mighter Topacio, 30.
Investigators said the aunt of the suspect’s partner sought the intervention of village watchmen after receiving a text message from her niece around 10:30 p.m. asking for help because the suspect was beating her.
Together with the village watchmen, the woman rushed to her niece’s residence but was shocked to see it on fire.
Neighbors of the victim rushed to help and managed to put out the fire.
Topacio tried to escape, but the village watchmen accosted him and turned him over to the police.
The suspect faces charges for violating the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 and alleged arson.