Wife who killed hubby set free

THE woman who shot and killed her husband on Father’s Day was freed around noon yesterday because no private complainant came out to file a case.

Editha Suliano had admitted to shooting her husband Samuel Suliano last Sunday evening.

Lapu-Lapu City Police Office director Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas said they have been waiting for immediate family members of the victim to execute an affidavit complaint. No witnesses also came forward.

“While it is a public crime but if the police alone will file the case without a private complainant and the necessary papers, it will lead to dismissal of the case,” Lawas said.

Editha, a mother of nine, was fetched by her aunt Melchora Patalinjug from her detention cell. She however has been advised not to visit the wake of her husband nor visit her family in the meantime, for security reasons.

Their eldest son Frederick is not interested in filing a case against their mother.

Senior Insp. Zenaido Pastorfide Jr., chief of the Homicide Section of LLCPO said the release of Editha does not mean she is cleared of parricide as any interested party can still file the case within 20 years – the prescription period of the crime.

“We have been holding a lot of cases like this and the prosecutor’s office requires us to secure the necessary documents or they will just be dismissed, the complainant anyway has still enough time to file the case.” Pastorfide said.

Samuel’s burial is set on Monday at Lapu-Lapu’s Public Cemetery in barangay Gun-ob. His wake is at their house in barangay Marigondon.

Editha expressed her regrets on the incident, “nahitabo naman to, ang ako lang nga mangayo lang ko og pasaylo niya ug sa iyang mga igsoon, maningkamot nalang ko maatiman nako ang akong mga anak, makuha nako pagbalik ang ilang pagsalig,” Editha said.

(It has been done, I ask for forgiveness from him and to his family. I will just do my best to take care of my children, and earn their trust again.)

Editha broke down in tears thinking of what had happened and was very worried about her 1-year old child who is still being breastfed.

One of the victim’s brother Ricardo Suliano wants Editha to remain in prison as they seek justice for the death of their brother but was prevailed by other members of their family.

Frederick said that although they are having a hard time, they opted not to pursue the parricide case against their mother as this would mean the loss of both parents.

Prior to the killing, Editha had suspected her husband of having an extra-marital affair.

She said that lately, her husband was fiddling with his mobile phone, discreetly sending messages to his textmate, a certain Leonor.

Samuel worked as a painter in one of the resorts in Lapu-Lapu City.