69-year-old woman stabbed, strangled to death by 2 minors in Pampanga

A 69-year-old woman was stabbed and strangled to death by her two gardeners, both minors, after she caught them trying to steal from her house at Diamond Subdivision in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Florida Velazquez was allegedly killed by her 15-year-old and 17-year-old gardeners when they came in for work on October 21 and forcibly entered her house by unlocking her backdoor and destroying its protective screen.

Angeles Police PS-4 Commander Chief Inspector Aris Gonzales said the suspects, who admitted to the crime, decided to kill Velazquez when she saw them inside her house.

"Sa revelation din po nila in front of their parents, sa ating imbestigador, nagplano po sila na magnakaw, pumasok dun sa bahay na pinagtatrabahuan nila," Gonzales said.

"Nagkataon po na nagkita sila nung may-ari sa loob, nagdesisyon po sila na 'yung isa po is sinakal niya po 'yung biktima natin gamit ang cable wire at isa po is gamit 'yung kitchen knife," he added.

The minors stabbed Velazquez 16 times before strangling her with a TV cable, which they left around her neck to ensure her death.

"May mga pasa po siya sa mukha, may saksak siya dito pisngi, and then dahil nagaagaw-buhay na, gusto nilang mamatay agad, kumuha sila ng cable wire, ng TV, and then pinulupot po sa leeg niya," the victim's son, Michael, said.

Police found traces of the victim's blood in her room where the suspects took jewelry.

Velazquez's body was found by her masseuse hours after the incident.

Relatives of both suspects were horrified with their crimes and agreed to disciplinary actions they will be subjected to in lieu of criminal charges due to their age.

"Nagkasala po sila, natural pagbabayaran nila yung kasalanan. Kasalanan yun eh, di naman po dapat kunsintihin," the father of one of the suspects said.

"Na-shock po kami. Siyempre, isipin po ba namin po na maano siya, magawa niya yun dahil sa kinse anyos lang siya," said the aunt of the other minor.

Both are under the custody of the City Social Welfare and Development Office. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News