Balikbayan OFW stabbed to death in Antipolo

The Antipolo police has launched an investigation into the killing Friday of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who went home to spend Christmas in the Philippines but allegedly got entangled in a lover's spat that took a bloody turn.

In Emil Sumagil's exclusive report on 24 Oras, police said the 29-year-old victim Canice Minica Seming sustained at least 15 stab wounds to different parts of her body.

She was found dead past midnight Friday—just three days before Christmas—inside her sibling's home at an exclusive subdivision in Antipolo City.

"The worst Christmas ever. We were looking forward to having fun this Christmas," said Jose Garcia, the victim's brother-in-law.

Law enforcers have identified Art Tondo, who worked for the Garcia family, as a person of interest in the case.

Based on CCTV footage on the night of the crime, Tondo was seen walking on the subdivision streets with a backpack and wiping his hands using a white cloth or towel.

Investigators are now looking for Tondo and the tricycle he rode away from the subdivision.

Before the incident, Tondo had been asked to take a break from his work duties.

"I said it in a nice way na, magbakasyon ka muna... We already had some bad experiences with him sa pera, sa pagha-handle ng pera, pagha-handle ng tao, yung ugali niya mahirap pakisamahan, mayabang," Garcia said.

(I said it in a nice way: Take a vacation for a while... We already had some bad experiences with him about money, about handling people, and that he was a difficult and arrogant person.)

Police are looking at the angle that Tondo tried to get back together with the Garcias' house helper, but she jilted him and then cut off their communication.

"Binlock niya [si Tondo sa kanyang phone], so wala nang recourse 'yung [person of interest] kundi dumalaw kung saan siya ay kasambahay sa pinangyarihan ng krimen," said Police Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Manongdo, chief of the Antipolo police.

(The house helper blocked Tondo on her phone, so he had no recourse but to visit her where the crime took place.)

According to Mangondo, however, the house helper was not at the site when Tondo possibly arrived. Instead, he vented his anger on the victim.

"Nadamay lang sa crime of passion 'yung biktima," said Mangondo, adding that Tondo was a dangerous person who had been previously sent to prison.

(The victim got caught in a crime of passion.)

Both Garcia and the Antipolo police doubted that robbery was the motivation for the crime.

"Kung pagnanakaw, bakit 'yung cellphone lang ni Canice ang nanakaw samantalang katabi niya sa katawan niya ay 'yung bag niya, andun 'yung wallet niya, andun 'yung card niya, andun pa nga pati yung passport niya eh," Garcia said.

(If it was a robbery, why was Canice's cellphone the only item taken? Her bag was there right beside her body. Her wallet, card, even her passport were inside the bag.)

The 24 Oras report noted that the assailant appeared to go to the maid's room, based on blood stains on its door, before exiting through the back. — VDV, GMA Integrated News