Missing helper found dead inside drum at elderly employers’ home

A household helper who had been missing for days was found dead inside a drum at her elderly employers’ residence in Cainta, Rizal.

According to Oscar Oida's report on "24 Oras," the victim Maribel Vilma Bacsal, 42, was last seen alive when she left for work on Thursday.

She never returned home.

An aunt, who also works for the same employers, said she asked for her whereabouts but they denied seeing her.

“Pumunta sila dito, wala. Wala daw di raw pumasok. Nitong Linggo na, edi ako na schedule ko. Ako ang pumasok, doon ko na nakita gamit niya. Sabi ko 'te sabi mo di pasok, Vilma'. Sabi nya 'ay, di ko alam limot ko na’,” Ruby Bacsal said.

(When I asked them, they said she did not report for work. I went here last Sunday and saw her belongings. I asked them again but they said they had already forgotten.)

Authorities said they were investigating who could be behind the tragic incident as the victim had no other companion except for her employers.

However, the couple was old, with one being feeble and the other, bed-ridden.

“Dalawang drum na pinagpatong. Pinasok siguro sa loob tapos tinakpan ng isa pang drum. Noong pinasok namin, medyo mahirap buksan. Siguro i-sineal pa noong binuksan nga namin, kita na namin yung paa,” said Police Major Alfonso Saligumba III of Cainta Police Station.

(Two drums were used to conceal her body. Maybe one was used as a container and the other, for cover. It was hard to open when we checked it so maybe it was sealed. But after opening, we saw her foot.)

Saligumba said they were also reviewing CCTV footage in the area for the possible identification of the suspect. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News