Man goes berserk, kills wife, child, kin then self

VIGAN CITY—A man here shot and killed his wife, daughter and two other relatives before he shot himself in the head on Wednesday. Another daughter was wounded and is fighting for her life in a hospital in this Ilocos Sur capital, police said.

Supt. Jugith del Prado, city police chief, said Edwin John Espinueva, 37, apparently planned the attack after investigators found in his digital camera a picture of him holding a suicide note taken at about 6 p.m. Wednesday in a fast-food chain here, some six hours before he attacked his family members.

Written on a page of a small notebook was: “Mama Weng, Sam and Karla … Mahal na mahal ko kayo kaya ko nagawa ’to … Ayaw kong magkahiwa-hiwalay tayo … Love, Papa Bong.”

On another page, Espinueva wrote: “Happy 15th year to my loving wife, Frances Louella M. Espinueva. I love you. From Papa Bong.”

Del Prado said Espinueva’s wife, Frances, 34; their daughter, Karla, 16; his mother-in-law, Estrelita Mendoza, 56; and his wife’s cousin, Jeffrey Mendoza, 30, were killed in the attack in the family’s house in Barangay II here.

Another daughter, Samantha, 7, had two bullet wounds in the head and chest, and was taken to a hospital here.

Police recovered a .45 cal. pistol and a .38 cal. revolver in the house.

Del Prado said investigators were looking at personal problems as a motive in the attack. Leoncio Balbin Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon