Four killed in robbery-slay in Lipa City, Batangas

By Ronron
May 17, 2005

Four persons were killed in a robbery-slay incident early Tuesday morning in Lipa City, Batangas, police said.

According to the Lipa City Police Station, the incident happened at around 4 am when an unidentified male robber barged into the residence of the three slain victims located in Levitown Subdivision, Barangay Marauoy, Lipa City.

The robber was killed later when police responded to the alarm.

The dead victims were identified as Rodoflo Lunar, 62; his alleged live-in partner, Editha Tapalla, 39; and the household helper, Sophia Encernado, 21. They sustained multiple stab wounds, according to police.

It was not yet known if the suspect was able to get anything from the victims’ house but what was certain was that the suspect stabbed the victims to death before fleeing.

The mobile patrol of the Lipa City Police was able to respond promptly because of the alarm raised by the children of Tapalla who escaped the attack. They were identified as Judith, 10, and Dantes, 17.

Police said the suspect was shot dead by the authorities near the victims’ residence when he tried to escape and refused to surrender.

Investigation on the case is still going on as of this writing./DMS