GUIMBA, NUEVA ECIJA — A tragic homecoming turned deadly when a woman, who had just returned from working abroad, was brutally killed by her own husband in front of their children in Barangay Bagong Barrio, Guimba, Nueva Ecija.
The victim was identified as 34-year-old Zynnel Joy Pagaling, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who had arrived in the country only four days earlier from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Her husband and the suspect in the crime, 40-year-old Manuel Diaz-Mendoza, is a resident of Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija.
According to Ferly Pagaling, the victim’s mother, Mendoza allegedly sharpened the screwdriver before repeatedly stabbing Zynnel in the chest and side — all while their three children watched helplessly.
The children reportedly screamed and begged their father to spare their mother’s life, but to no avail.
Beyond the brutal loss of life, the money that Zynnel brought home — amounting to around ₱100,000 — also went missing after the incident.
Neighbors claimed they saw a man on a motorcycle leaving the victim’s home shortly after the crime.
When Zynnel’s sibling arrived at the scene, the house was found in disarray, and the victim’s wallet was gone.
The motive behind the killing remains unclear, as the victim’s family said they had no knowledge of any serious marital issues that could have led to the attack.
Mendoza is now in custody at the Guimba Municipal Police Station as authorities continue to investigate the case.
