A couple and their two children were found dead in their house in Biñan, Laguna. Authorities suspect the father killed his wife and children with a hammer.
In a report by John Consulta on GMA News “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the victims were identified as Jolly Espinas, 41, and her children Winston, 7, and Brixton, 1, who happily celebrated his first birthday in May.
After committing the crime, the father, Johnny Martinez, 46, is suspected of committing suicide by hanging himself.
The corpses of the mother and her children were found bloody after receiving hammer blows.
Face masks were found in the children’s mouths when they were found.
According to neighbors, they heard the children crying on Monday night.
“Neto pong umaga, wala pong lumalabas. ‘Pag may bumibili ng softdrinks, wala pong lumalabas. ‘Pag kinakatok, wala rin pong sumasagot o umiiyak na bata man lang. ‘Pag tingin ko po nakabukas ‘yong pinto tapos pagbungad ko po, nandoon na po ‘yong bata, duguan na siya,” said the neighbor.
Investigators said the father was a bus driver but was laid off. It was said that the couple was having financial problems.
Father allegedly hammered family to death before killing self
“Dati po siyang bus driver. Na-layoff po sa trabaho. Ang source of income na lang po nila eh ‘yong pagtitinda ng mga softdrinks at sigarilyo sa kanilang kwarto. May mga usapan po dito na minsan nababalitaan nila na problema noong mag-asawa ‘yong pinansiyal,” said Biñan City police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Giovani Martinez.
The police have reportedly informed the relatives of the victims, who will also undergo an autopsy.
Authorities will also continue to find out if anyone else has committed a crime.
“Para malaman po namin at mabuo po ‘yong teorya kung talagang may ibang taong gumawa ng krimen na ito o ‘yong padre de pamilya po talaga,” said Martinez.
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