Cabbie wanted for killing pregnant partner, her niece

Benjamin Pardenez Jr.

The Mandaluyong City police have launched a manhunt for a taxi driver who stabbed dead his live-in partner and her 12-year-old niece at their condominium unit on Monday.

Benjamin Pardenez Jr. fled after killing Ma. Rosula Paunil and her niece Jessa Mae inside their Ridgeway Residences unit on Dansalan Street, Barangay Barangka Ilaya, police said.

The crime was discovered after Pardenez called up a friend and confessed to the killing.

Responding officers found Paunil with at least 10 stab wounds, her body placed on top of her niece who was stabbed 12 times.

A medico-legal expert handling the case, Dr. Marianne Ebdane, said Paunil was six months pregnant.

Investigators gathered that the couple had a history of violent fights, with Pardenez physically assaulting the woman.

It was initially theorized that the suspect went into a murderous rage because of jealousy.

According to a report to the Mandaluyong police chief, Senior Supt. Moises Villaceran, Pardenez was last seen leaving the condo unit at 6:15 p.m. Monday.

About five hours later, Pardenez contacted his friend, Arvin Migorio, admitting over the phone that he had killed the two victims.

Alerted by Migorio around 6 p.m. Tuesday, responding Mandaluyong policemen found the condo unit’s door locked and had to force it open.

In an interview on Wednesday at Funeraria Quiogue in Pasig, where the wake was being held, Paunil’s sister Honeylyn said the victim was carrying Pardenez’s child in her womb.

Paunil had four children from a previous relationship.

According to one of them, Paunil met Pardenez through Facebook eight months ago. The suspect started living with her in January.

Information on Pardenez’s whereabouts may be relayed to the Mandaluyong police at 0921-4748008. —JODEE A. AGONCILLO, LAWRENCE LLACER AND JASMIN JATT SALVACION