Lovers’ spats turn fatal, fiery; 4 dead in Pasig, QC

Lovers’ quarrels turned deadly— and even led to a fire that left their neighbors homeless—in separate incidents in Pasig and Quezon City late this week.

A woman was charged in Quezon City on Saturday for allegedly killing her live-in partner, while a fire in Pasig City on Friday was traced to the house of a couple who were last seen attacking each other with knives before the blaze spread. The Pasig couple were later found dead along with their 21-year-old daughter.

Homicide charges were filed on Saturday against Margie Jimenez, 42, in the Quezon City prosecutor’s office for the death of Randolf Lardizabal, 25.

Investigators said Jimenez had admitted killing Lardizabal during a heated argument inside their house on Antipolo Street, Barangay Krus na Ligas. The woman claimed she only retaliated for the beatings she had suffered at the hands of her partner.

The victim was found dead Friday morning with several contusions on the head. A wooden plank that Jimenez used in the killing was found at the crime scene.

Insp. Elmer Monsalve said it was the suspect who even asked Lardizabal’s brother Junjun through a text message on Friday morning to check on the victim shortly after the assault. Jimenez was not in the house when the police arrived, but showed up later and expressed remorse.

In Pasig, police gathered from a witness that couple Cecilia and Jesus Albay “were trying to stab each other” shortly before a fire started around 3 p.m. from their house on St. Peter Street in Barangay Rosario.

Cecilia’s daughter, Jecell, reportedly tried to pacify the couple, but she was also found dead after the hour-long fire that engulfed at least 12 houses and left about 85 people homeless. The displaced families were forced to take shelter at the barangay’s multipurpose hall.

Neighbors tried to rescue the Albays early during the fire but the gate was locked, said PO3 Ric Allapitan of the Pasig police investigation section.