23-year-old fast-food service crew killed in her bed by burglar in Manila

MANILA, Philippines–A 23-year-old woman was killed in her bed by a suspected burglar who broke into her house in Manila early on Monday morning.

The Manila Police District identified the victim as Ara Villaruel, a native of Batangas who worked as a service crew for a fast-food chain. Investigators were still trying to identify a suspect in the killing.

The attack happened around 3:30 a.m. on Monday at Villaruel’s rented house on Reposo street in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

According to a report filed by case investigator SPO3 Othello Rabec, the victim’s sister, Erika, was woken up by Ara’s scream in her room downstairs.

When she went down, she found the victim unconscious and bloodied in her bed. She also told police that she saw a man, who appeared to be five feet and three inches tall and about 25 years old, run away from their house in the direction of Old Sta. Mesa.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was proclaimed dead on arrival.

Police are investigating whether the killing was a robbery gone wrong, as the victim’s bag containing P600 in cash and other personal documents went missing.