A common-law couple was shot dead inside their house in General Santos City.

The 39-year-old woman sustained two gunshot wounds in her back while her 36-year-old live-in partner was found lifeless on the bed.

Police recovered eight empty shells of caliber .40 pistol and three deformed slugs from the crime scene.

Authorities have arrested the woman’s 33-year-old cousin during a hot pursuit operation.

Operatives reportedly had a hard time arresting the suspect at first because the suspect’s wife prevented them from entering the house.

“Dili gyud niya ablihan ang gate tungod gina-question niya ang validity sa among pagsulod and giingon namu didto nga wala mi warrant pero this is hot pursuit operation… I instructed my troops again, ambakan na lang gyud tong pader para ablihan ang gate sa sulod… and didto pa mi nakasulod and it takes how many minutes of negotiation para pasudlon lang gyud mi and dili gyud siya musugot,” Police Station 6 Commander, Major Ivan Charles Abastillas, said.

The suspect’s wife was also arrested and is facing possible charges for obstruction of justice. She said her husband is innocent.

DENIAL

“Wala nako giprotektahan ako bana uy… kabalo man ko nga inosente siya… nag-uban baya mi tibuok gabii. Nagbantay baya mi sa compound sa amo,” she said.

The suspect echoed his wife’s statement, saying he was sleeping at the compound where he worked as a caretaker when the incident happened.

“Wala sir, dili na nako maangkon kay wala na nako gibuhat, sir. That time nga nahitabo, naa ko sa akong gitribahoan… katong nangamatay, wala pud mi away ato. Ig-agaw pud nako ang babae,” the suspect said.

But authorities reportedly recovered pieces of evidence and items that may have been used in the commission of the crime.

“Pagsulud namo sa area, we recovered some things na valuable evidence like helmet nga gigamit nga getaway niya sa motor ug mao to ang iyang helmet, and series of ammunition and empty shells, live ammunition of caliber 40 also na same didto, same caliber na-recover sa SOCO and empty cartridges of caliber 40 gihapon. Nakakita pud mi drugs sa iyang sling bag, which is his property also,” Abastillas said.

Police are looking into illegal drugs and personal grudge as possible motives in the killing.

The suspect and his wife are detained, as of this writing.

The suspect is facing charges for murder and violations of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (RA 10591) and Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165).