SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija — Four members of a family, including an eight-month baby girl, were massacred in a far-flung village here Tuesday evening.
But Chief Inspector Arnold Palomo, town police chief, said they received the report only at about 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday to which they promptly responded.
He identified the fatalities as Marcela Galicia, 50, her son Mark Arthur Galicia, 28, and wife Cecilia, 25, and their only child, Aceel.
The bodies of Marcela and Mark Arthur were found on a pathway to their house while those of Cecilia and Aceel were at the living area.
Palomo said the investigation they conducted with elements from the Philippine National Police (PNP) scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) showed all the victims sustained several gunshot wounds in their bodies.
Probers recovered empty shells from a .8mm pistol, Palomo said.
Some neighbors told the police they heard several gun shots at about 7p.m. Tuesday but they never realized they came from real firearms. “A witness said he look on to this house and found no commotion at all so he ignored the gunshots,” Palomo said.
Police said they considered land dispute as one of the possible motives behind the massacre. Marcela’s husband, Timoteo, it turned out was killed in the same place some seven years ago. “There was a suspect in that killing but no one was formally charged in court,” he explained.
Estelita Cabiedez, mother of Cecilia, said her daughter was so excited about the forthcoming birthday celebration of her daughter. “Napakatagal nilang mag-asawa bago nagkaanak,” Cabiedez said of Mark Arthur and Cecilia.
The two had been married for seven years.
But Chief Inspector Arnold Palomo, town police chief, said they received the report only at about 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday to which they promptly responded.
He identified the fatalities as Marcela Galicia, 50, her son Mark Arthur Galicia, 28, and wife Cecilia, 25, and their only child, Aceel.
The bodies of Marcela and Mark Arthur were found on a pathway to their house while those of Cecilia and Aceel were at the living area.
Palomo said the investigation they conducted with elements from the Philippine National Police (PNP) scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) showed all the victims sustained several gunshot wounds in their bodies.
Probers recovered empty shells from a .8mm pistol, Palomo said.
Some neighbors told the police they heard several gun shots at about 7p.m. Tuesday but they never realized they came from real firearms. “A witness said he look on to this house and found no commotion at all so he ignored the gunshots,” Palomo said.
Police said they considered land dispute as one of the possible motives behind the massacre. Marcela’s husband, Timoteo, it turned out was killed in the same place some seven years ago. “There was a suspect in that killing but no one was formally charged in court,” he explained.
Estelita Cabiedez, mother of Cecilia, said her daughter was so excited about the forthcoming birthday celebration of her daughter. “Napakatagal nilang mag-asawa bago nagkaanak,” Cabiedez said of Mark Arthur and Cecilia.
The two had been married for seven years.
