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BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A 70-year-old woman was beheaded by her own son outside their house in Villa Esperanza, Barangay (village) Tangub here on Thursday morning.
Percival Gabitanan, 34, was detained at the Bacolod police station 8 pending the filing of charges for killing his mother, Elidena.
Percival told reporters that he beheaded his mother because he thought his mother was an “aswang” (folkloric monster) and her looks kept on changing.
He said he dragged his mother out of their house about 2:45 a.m. and tried to stab her with a bamboo stick.
When she moved, he said he hit her with a bamboo pole on the head and body. He then tied her legs and hands before cutting off her head using a bolo.
Elidena’s body was found outside the house. Her head was severed with her hands and feet tied with parachute cloth and cellophane, a police report said.
An eight-inch bolo with bloodstains was found in the area.
Percival admitted he used drugs but denied that he was high on drugs that time.
Inspector Richard Fajarito, deputy police chief of station 8, said it was possible that Percival was under the influence of drugs when he committed the crime.
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