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Man in Dumaguete City kills wife, then tries to kill self in detention cell


DUMAGUETE CITY—A 29-year-old man is now under medical observation after he attempted to commit suicide inside a detention cell at the Dumaguete City Police Station Tuesday afternoon.

Ronald Montesor, a native of Valencia town, was arrested on Tuesday morning after he killed his 31-year-old wife inside the house they were staying at Barangay Taclobo in this city.

Initial police investigation showed that Montesor killed his wife Vergenia by putting a pillow over her face while she was asleep. She died on the spot from suffocation.

Vergenia, 31, was a public school teacher. She was seven months pregnant when she was killed.

According to Dumaguete City Police chief Superintendent Jonathan Pineda, jealousy was the motive behind the killing. He declined to disclose further details.

Hours into police custody, Montesor used a belt to hang himself inside the detention cell’s comfort room.

Police officers who responded to the scene said he had already been talking about taking his own life while inside the cell.

Jail guards immediately rushed to him to the nearby Holy Child Hospital, where he is still undergoing medical treatment as of press time.

Pineda could not give further details on the suspect’s condition, but said that Montesor is now in a private room and is being guarded by police officers and his own relatives.

Asked why a belt was inside the police detention cell, Pineda said that the belt did not come from Montesor or any of the police officers. The belt was being used inside Montesor’s cell for hanging clothes.

Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NORPPO) acting director Senior Superintendent Raul Tacaca said that while the police remove knives, firearms, and other personal belongings from detainees, belts were not one of them.

“Ang sinturon naman kasi, hindi natin pinagbabawal sa loob ng [selda], not unless talagang may threat na. Normal lang naman na lahat ng tao, may sinturon, di ba?” he said.

He added that the police does not necessarily disallow detainees from wearing belts because these are part of their usual clothing, especially when they wear loose, long pants.

Upon recovery, Montesor is set to face parricide charges. —LDF, GMA News

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