Lawyer’s brother killed by houseboy in Mandaue

An older brother of a retired policeman-turned lawyer was allegedly stabbed dead by his helper in barangay Labogon, Mandaue City, on Tuesday night.

Henry Quiñanola, 68, brother of lawyer Fritz Quiñanola, was found seated on a chair with multiple stab wounds in the body in the living room of his house in Doña Rosario Village. The body was covered with a blanket, said police.

Suspect Jimmy Ruiz, 20, a native of Dipolog City, was arrested by a security guard of the subdivision shortly after the killing.

Ruiz, who has been been working as Henry’s helper for a year, admitted to the killing.

“Nahinaykan naman nako mao ako napatay tungod sa akoang kapungot. Wala nako kabalo sa akoang gibuhat (I was not able to control myself. I didn’t know what I was doing. I killed him out of anger),” said Ruiz.

Days before the killing, Ruiz tried to borrow money from Henry so he could go home to Dipolog.

Henry turned down the request as his family had a scheduled out-of-town trip, said Insp. Stephen Almamag-id, chief of the Basak police station.

The suspect was upset when his request was not granted, said police.

According to the initial investigation, the victim had just arrived home home past 8 p.m. when Ruiz hit him in the head with the handle of a screwdriver.

The blow left the victim unconscious.

The suspect finished off the victim by stabbing him repeatedly using the screwdriver.

Police said the suspect took P5,560 cash from the victim’s wallet and also took his employer’s cell phone.

A witness told police that he heard two men arguing and went out of his house to check after hearing a loud noise coming from the victim’s house.

The witness said while he was outside his house, the suspect approached him and told him what he did to his boss.

The witness then alerted security guard Isagani Labita, who collared the suspect.

Responding police inspected the house and found Henry’s body inside.

Police said the victim’s money was found in Ruiz’s pocket while the cellular phone was found in his bag.

Police said the victim planned the killing as he forced his co-helper to leave early for his night school.

“Naa jud ni siya plano sa insidenti kay namugos man gud siya nga mueskwela. Unya iya pa jud gipangawat ang butang sa biktima,” said Almamag-id.

A charge of robbery with homicide will be filed against the suspect, who was detained at the Basak police precinct.