Househelp, lover rob, kill 67-year-old woman near Army headquarters

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao -- Police here arrested Friday two persons believed to have murdered a 67-year-old woman and robbed her of valuables and cash in Barangay Em's Village, Barangay Awang here.Chief Inspector Achmad Alibonga, Odin Sinsuat town police chief, identified the suspects asLiezle Sumalpong Cagampong and Jefrey Miranda Magdalan, residents of the same community.Alibonga said Cagampong admitted to the crime but insisted it was Magdalan who hit Evelyn Mangulabnan Penson in the head with a metal pipe that sent the old woman unconscious on Sunday night.

Cagampong had been the old woman's househelp for years. She was suspected to have a love affair with Magdalan who was a neighbor.The crime scene is a stone's throw away from the 6th Infantry Division headquarters.On monday dawn, Elmer, the victim's brother, went to the city for marketing, leaving his sister and Cagampong at home.Upon his return, he found his sister dead, blood over her due to several stab wounds, Alibonga said.Elmer also discovered that the suspects robbed her sister of P90,000 cash and jewelry estimated to cost P30,000.It was not clear how the suspects were arrested but Alibonga said Cagampong readily admitted to the crime during police investigation and pointed at Magdalan as the mastermind.Penson's remains have been subjected to autopsy and will soon be sent to Luzon.

Cagampong and Magdalan are now detained at DOS lock up cell and charges for murder with robbery have been filed against them.Police are considering testing the suspects for illegal drug use.