Banana plantation worker kills live-in partner, self in Davao del Sur town

DIGOS CITY—A banana plantation worker in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur killed his live-in partner then himself on Monday (Feb. 8).

Police rushed to Sinayawan village in the town to investigate the case after officials reported it.

Lt. Nilo Emborgo, Hagonoy police chief, said coworkers found Christopher Unda, 25, hanging with a nylon rope around his neck at a conveyor belt that carried bananas to a packing facility.

When police arrived at the farm, they found Unda’s corpse already lying on a table.

Investigators said prior to the discovery of Unda’s body, a coworker, identified as Raul Rojo, said he saw Unda appearing to try on the nylon rope around his neck. Rojo said he asked Unda what he was doing and Unda replied that he was killing himself because he had just killed his 22-year-old live-in partner, Trishia Mae Magsalin.

Rojo told investigators he was shocked to learn later that Unda was not joking or lying about having killed Magsalin.

After hearing Rojo’s account, police looked for Magsalin in the couple’s living quarters that was locked. When the quarters were forced open, authorities discovered Magsalin’s body lying on the floor, bathed in blood.

Police found a wound in Magsalin’s neck.

No one could tell why Unda killed his common-law wife.

TSB