Kin demand justice for raped, slain 81-year-old

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—An 81-year-old woman in Nueva Ecija, who was raped, beaten up and bludgeoned on April 22 by what her relatives said was a deaf and mute man who could be a fall guy, has been buried amid demands for justice.

In burial rites in Barangay Bibiclat in Aliaga town, relatives of Adelaida Hudencial wore red shirts emblazoned with the appeal, “Justice for Kaka Adeling.”

Leo Topacio, Hudencial’s nephew, said the family expected a swift investigation by the police.

Topacio said there can be “possibly other suspects.”

Hudencial died in a hospital in Cabanatuan City on April 25 after being attacked on April 22. Topacio said the autopsy report showed she was beaten up, stabbed, strangled and bludgeoned with a pipe in the head. She also suffered excessive bleeding, he said.

Police filed a rape case against Alexander Ancheta, 19, on April 24 in the provincial prosecutor’s office. Senior Supt. Crizaldo Nieves, Nueva Ecija police chief, said the case could be amended to include homicide or murder, depending on the result of preliminary investigation.

Police said Jo Ann Navarro, a store owner, asked her neighbors to help Hudencial after she heard the latter shout for help.

Village watchmen arrested Ancheta, a resident of the same village, as he tried to escape, police said.

Topacio said Hudencial, a vegetable vendor, was one of his three aunts who did not marry and instead helped in rearing their nephews and nieces. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon