MANILA, Philippines—Hell hath no fury like women wielding a steel pipe and reaching for a bottle of acid.
A charge for frustrated murder has been filed against a 31-year-old woman in Valenzuela City who was arrested Monday night for allegedly splashing acid on her ex-boyfriend, sending him to the hospital for potentially disfiguring burns on the face.
The police are also hunting down her female friend, who allegedly helped in the assault by hitting the man with a steel pipe.
Beejay Martinez, a cashier in a medical clinic at Felisa Building, Gov. Santiago Street, Barangay (village) Malinta, remained tightlipped on what exactly drove her to attack her former lover, 26-year-old Raymond Rodriguez, according to the city’s police chief.
The incident happened around 8:30 p.m. Monday inside the clinic, where Rodriguez visited Martinez, who was then with a friend identified only as Irene.
An investigation showed that for reasons still unclear, Martinez threw acid on Rodriguez’s face. As he lost his footing and covered his face in pain, Martinez and Irene took turns hitting the man in the head with a steel pipe.
The wounded Rodriguez rushed out and was able to report the attack to village watchmen, who then went to the clinic to arrest Martinez. Irene, however, was no longer there when they arrived.
The watchmen brought Rodriguez to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center. He was later transferred to the Chinese General Hospital due to the severity of his wounds.
Severe chemical burns
“The victim’s wounds are quite serious but he is in a stable condition. He has severe chemical burns on his face, as well as injuries in his head because of the beatings,” according to the Valenzuela police chief, Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento.
Martinez apparently used muriatic acid in the attack, the official said.
Armamento said Martinez, who remained in detention at the police headquarters, refused to talk about the incident.
Investigators have yet to get a statement from Rodriguez, who remained confined in the hospital.
“We are not discounting other possible motives, but investigators are looking at jealousy. It could be a crime of passion because Martinez and Rodriguez were previously in a relationship,” Armamento said.