The lifeless body of a female caregiver was discovered in a disturbing state in the Brookside Hills Subdivision, Brgy San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal on July 3, Monday at 2:00 PM.
The victim, identified as Maribel Bacsal, 40 years old, was found confined inside two connected plastic drums emitting a foul odor.
According to Barangay official Aristotle Castillo of Brgy. San Isidro, they received a call from a concerned neighbor who noticed an unusual smell.
Authorities immediately went to the house and confirmed the unpleasant odor. However, they were not allowed entry by an elderly woman who owned the house.
Castillo mentioned that the victim's aunt, who works as a house cleaner, arrived and asked the elderly woman if Maribel had entered the house.
The elderly woman claimed that Maribel did not enter. However, the aunt noticed Maribel's earphones, hat, and other personal belongings inside the house, which raised her suspicions further.
At this point, the aunt became alarmed, especially since Maribel had only been assigned to work a half-day and was restricted to cleaning only a specific area of the house.
Since then, Castillo stated that they had been keeping an eye on the house until a Grab vehicle arrived to pick up the two elderly individuals and transport them to the hospital.
"Inutusan daw po siya na sunduin 'yung dalawang matanda, 'yung isang bedrridden at isang nasa 80 years old, para ipa-check up. Ang sabi po namin hindi po siya pwedeng maglabas ng tao diyan gawa nga ng may crime sceme diyan (sa bahay). Nagulat po siya (driver), 'di niya alam na may patay," the barangay official said.
Surprisingly, it was discovered that the person who booked the Grab was the son of the house owner from Brgy. Maharlika in Taguig City.
This raised their suspicion that the son may have been involved in the crime.
Currently, the Cainta Police are actively pursuing the said son, identified as Kenneth Duncan alias Kenneth Tan, 38 years old.
Meanwhile, the elderly man remains hospitalized and bedridden, while the police have taken custody of the victim's aunt.
