Live-in partner, house help probed in Laguna businessman’s slay

MANILA, Philippines—Police are looking into the possible involvement of a live-in partner and a helper in the death of a businessman inside his home in Laguna before dawn Tuesday, police said Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Pascual Munoz, Laguna police director, identified the victim as Dominic Adolfo, who was shot dead by unidentified suspects inside his house along Masi Street in Barangay (village) San Antonio in San Pedro around 4 a.m.

Munoz quoted Adolfo’s 19-year-old female house help as saying that she was woken from her sleep when she heard stones being thrown at their house.

She said she allegedly saw three men wearing bonnets, who allegedly pointed a gun at her and ordered her to open the door.

“Sinabihan daw sya na babarilin sya pag hindi niya binuksan ang pinto,” Munoz said, adding that the helper did as told and was then made to sit and was asked how many they were inside the house.

“Pero hindi sya pinosasan or tinali,” Munoz said, noting that the fact that helper was first made to sit, asked, and was not even tied, were “unusual” actions that suspects won’t usually do when breaking into a house.

Moreover, Munoz said that it was also the helper who opened the door of Adolfo’s bedroom who was then sleeping with his live-in partner Melanie Jumipit.

When Adolfo woke up and saw the suspects, a scuffle ensued and Adolfo was eventually shot.

Jumipit, however, was quoted as saying that “she didn’t see anything.”

“Basta puro walang narinig. Ganon lang ang statement,” Munoz said but added, that this is, again, questionable.

Jumipit also claimed that five units of cellphones that were said to be at the living room were missing after the incident.

“Sa sala mo ba ilalagay ang cellphone mo? Imposibleng hindi nila katabi diba?” Munoz asked.

During the course of the investigation, police learned that Adolfo and Jumipit have been together for quite some time and have two children.

The helper, whose name was not immediately available, has been with the family for almost two months.

“Tinitignan naming lahat itong mga information na ito and kung may connection,” Munoz said, adding that manhunt operations are being conducted for possible identification and arrest of the suspects.