Tuguegarao cop accused of killing wife surrenders

MANILA, Philippines–The Tuguegarao City policeman who allegedly killed his wife in a jealous rage in Manila over a week ago surrendered to Manila Police District operatives before noon Thursday.

The suspect allegedly responsible for the death of 26-year-old registered nurse Krizzia Legasi on June 6 claimed he had accidentally shot his wife in a struggle.

Police Officer 1 Nathan Legasi of the Police Regional Office II in Tuguegarao City, surrendered to his superior, Senior Superintendent Greg Lim at their headquarters.

Lim, in turn, turned over Legasi around 11 a.m. Thursday to the MPD Homicide Section personnel, led by Senior Inspector Joselito De Ocampo, who went to Tuguegarao City to fetch the suspect.

“Legasi claimed he wanted to surrender earlier but was scared and confused,” Ocampo told the Inquirer.

Ocampo, citing Legasi’s initial statement upon his surrender, said the suspect had gone after his wife to her rented room at the NIC Apartment along Manrique Street in Sampaloc to convince her to return with him to Tuguegarao City and that had no intention to kill her.

“He (Legasi) claimed he brandished his .45 caliber pistol to try to scare her into agreeing to come home with him,” Ocampo said.

The suspect further claimed that while he was arguing with his wife, a scuffle ensued where Krizzia allegedly attempted to wrest the gun away from him.

“During the struggle, the gun went off and the bullet allegedly accidentally hit the victim in the face,” Ocampo told the INQUIRER, quoting Legasi.

The MPD homicide section chief further said that based on the suspect’s claim, he fled out of fear and only surrendered after he was convinced by his superiors and his father to turn himself over to the police.

It was previously learned that Krizzia, before her death, had been a battered wife and was trying to get away from her abusive relationship with Legasi. She had gone to Manila from Tuguegarao City to apply for a job in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to complete her escape.

Krizzia had been staying for two weeks at her rented room when Legasi caught up with her on June 6 and allegedly shot her in the head after posing as a new tenant at the apartment.