A 19-year-old woman was killed after being attacked with a jungle bolo by her 44-year-old stepfather on January 1 in Brgy. Sta. Ana, Taytay, Rizal. 

According to Taytay Police Chief Lt. Col. Marlo Solero, around 4a.m. on New Year’s Day, both the suspect and the victim hosted guests and celebrated in separate groups outside the house where they worked as caretakers. 

"May bisita po 'yung suspect, then may kainuman and then may isang grupo din po 'yun naman po grupo ng victim kasama 'yung boyfriend niya and then 'yung ibang bisita nya," Solero said. 

The victim and the suspect got into a heated argument before the suspect followed the victim and her boyfriend with a jungle bolo, which the victim's family said they regularly use for farming. 

"Kaya nung lumabas 'yung magboyfriend para bumili ng inumin sinundan nitong suspek dala yung jungle bolo niya at tinaga yung victim several times. 'Yung cause of death niya yung taga sa ulo," Solero said. 

The boyfriend tried to intervene but sustained injuries on his right arm. He is currently recovering in the hospital. 

Eduardo Apostol, a subdivision guard who witnessed the incident, recounted seeing the suspect chasing her stepdaughter's boyfriend. 

"Mayrong lumabas sa gate na naghahabulan, ang isa may itak 'yung isa ay may tumatakbo na baka maabot siya ng taga. Pagdating diyan sa kalsada na out balance yung may hawak ng itak kaya di naabot yung biktima," he said. 

He witnessed the suspect fleeing as the man called for help. Moments later, the woman, covered in blood, was seen stumbling out of the subdivision gate before collapsing. 

Apostol added that there was a trail of blood inside the subdivision near the gate. 

"Ibig sabihin baka dun pa lang naabot na yung babae. Ang babae eh napuruhan," he said. 

The victim’s aunt believes jealousy was the motive behind the attack and shared that the victim had confided in her about being harassed by the suspect.

"Nagsumbong po talaga 'yung bata sa 'kin..ang alam ko lang hipo-hipo. Ang alam ko lang talaga diyan baka nagselos lang talaga,' she said.

The victim’s mother and father expressed their anger.

"Buhay po kapalit gusto ko nang patayin kung pwde lang eh," the mother said.

"Napakaduwag po niya papatayin yung bata walang kamalay-malay," the father said.

The police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, who will face murder and frustrated murder charges.