A 60-year-old widow was stabbed dead in her sleep in San Francisco, Camotes Island in northern Cebu at dawn yesterday.
Buena Benturada Formentera, a folk healer or “manghihilot”, was stabbed in the stomach while her three grandchildren slept by her side.
Police arrested a neighbor, 25-year-old Christopher Cañete, along the shore of barangay southern Poblacion later in the afternoon.
Authorities are still investigating the motive of the killing of Formentera, a native of Leyte province.
Police said there was no sign of forced entry in the house.
The door was not damaged although it’s possible the front door was left unlocked.
The victim’s three granddaughters are aged 4, 6 and 8 were asleep when the violence occured.
Police said the eldest grandchild woke up first and saw Cañete flee on foot after the incident.
They said Formentera told her 8-year-old grandchild that she was attacked by Cañete.
Police said Cañete was a neighbr who lived 300 meters away.
The little girl sought the help of neighbors. San Francisco municipal health officer Dr. Emmanuel Almaden declared the victim dead.
Cañete didn’t resist arrest and denied involvement in the crime.
Police said the victim’s grandaughter is the main eyewitness of the murder.
The three children were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in San Francisco.
Formentera was buried at the San Francisco public cemetery at 4 p.m. yesterday.
Cañete is detained at the San Francisco police precinct.
Murder charges will be filed against him tomorrow. Reporter Rhea Ruth V. Rosell