Wife of Cavite mass killer Ronald Bae says he abused her

The man who killed seven people, including two children, in a shooting rampage in Cavite last week was also a domestic abuser, said his wife. In an interview with GMA News, Maria Elena Bae said that her husband Ronald would physically and verbally abuse her. She also asked the victims' families for forgiveness. “Talagang humihingi ako talaga ng pasensiya. Hindi ko talaga alam, syempre may mga anak rin ako. Alam naman nila kung ano ang ugali ng asawa ko. Kahit ako sinasaktan. Kahit ako di ba dati sinubukan niya akong barilin dati,” she said. Ronald and Maria Elena, who were together for 13 years, got married five years ago. The couple had five children. Maria Elena said that her husband was a drug user and there had been plans to bring him to a rehabilitation center, but the plans fell through. Maria Elena also recalled that when they were living in Guagua, Pampanga, neighbors had to rescue Maria Elena and her children. One of the rescuers recalled on January 1 that they heard her asking for help from the second floor of their two-storey house. Bae was on the first floor then. “Andito kami nakatambay lang po, bigla pong may humihingi ng tulong. Tumakas po sila, dumaan sa hagdan,” the teenager said in an interview with GMA News. Another neighbor of the Baes' in Guagua said that the couple would fight a lot, according to their children. “Yung mga anak niya lagi silang kalaro ng mga apo ko. Minsan nagkukwento, nag-aaway ang Papa at Mama nila, lagi daw silang nag-aaway ganun, nagmumurahan,” Lita Manalang said in an interview with GMA News. She said that she seldom saw Ronald in their house and when she did he would be having a drinking spree with friends. Bae's mother, Tomasa, could not believe what happened to her son. “Ang anak ko 'Bossing' kung tawagin sa lugar nila. Lahat ng mga taong nangangailangan sa kanya pumupunta, sa kanya humihingi ng tulong. Mabait ang anak ko, nagtaka nga ako't nagkaganyan e,” she said. She added that there was no mention of any problem with his wife when she saw Ronald on December 9. Bae returned to their house in Cavite when his family left him. John Paul Lopez, Bae's companion during the rampage who helped him reload the gun, said that during their drinking binge Bae was saying something about a problem with his family. He also said that he and Bae took drugs the night before the latter went on his rampage. Lopez, now under police custody, has tested positive for metamphetamine, also known as shabu. Police have filed complaints against Lopez for seven counts of murder, 11 counts of frustrated murder, two counts of attempted murder, and violation of Republic Act 7610 (the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act). Imus, Cavite Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco said his office will issue the resolution on the charges that will be filed against Lopez on Wednesday afternoon as they are still double-checking the facts of the case. Bae was a two-time barangay councilor in Tabon 1, Kawit, Cavite before he decided to run for barangay chairman in 2010. He lost. He was seldom seen in Cavite after his defeat, so his neighbors were surprised to see him after the New Year. — BM, GMA News