Sun Star news

A MAN and his daughter died after they were stabbed and burned to death by unidentified persons inside their house in Barangay Kapitan Ramon in Silay City, Negros Occidental, early Tuesday, April 24.

Killed were Antonio Padua, 63, and his daughter Re-an, 7.

Superintendent Noel Polines, city police chief, said both victims were probably sleeping Monday night, April 23, when two or more perpetrators arrived at their house.

Padua sustained multiple stabs and hack wounds, while his daughter has a slash on her neck and stab wounds as well.

Padua was dragged from the balcony to the house, while his daughter was placed on top of him.

The perpetrators then put clothes on them and lighted them.

Polines said the fire was able to reach the divider and a cabinet but was not able to destroy the house because it was made of concrete materials.

The victims were found by a neighbor around 5 a.m. after he saw bloodstains at the balcony.

Police recovered from the scene a cellular phone, a pair of slippers, lighter, and a cigarette.

Both victims will be subjected to autopsy.

Meanwhile, in a radio interview, Padua's partner said that she was able to talk to her daughter around 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 23, as the latter was celebrating her seventh birthday. However, the call was suddenly cut off and that she was not able to contact them anymore.

She received the news the following day about the deaths of her partner and daughter, who were both only living at the house.

Polines said they have no lead yet on the identities of the perpetrators but they will also check the cellular phone which can possibly help them in the investigation.

He said they are eyeing land conflict and grudge as motives of the incident but they cannot be established any of those yet because they have no witnesses.

They are also eyeing robbery but all doors except the main door of the house were closed when the incident happened.

Polines said the child was probably killed because she also knew the suspects.

“There was hatred based on the manner of the killing,” he added.

The investigation is ongoing.