A man who allegedly choked to death a 27-year-old saleslady in Cebu City was arrested on August 3, 2024. 

According to the arresting officers from the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), alias “Darren” admitted strangling the woman to death in the morning of Friday, August 2, 2024.

The victim was identified as Charina Relativo, originally from Sitio Tiposo, Barangay Bulasâ, Argao town, south Cebu Province. She and her live-in partner rented a room in Cebu City.

Charina was left alone in the rented room in Sitio Laguna, Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City while her live-in partner was at work. 

According to Police Colonel Antonietto Cañete, acting city director of the CCPO, the man went inside the room while the woman was inside the comfort room at past 7 a.m. 

When the woman resisted, the suspect grabbed her neck. As the woman went limp, the suspect set the room on fire in an attempt to erase traces of his presence. The body of the woman was found naked and her hair burned. 

"Allegedly nanlaban(ang biktima), that is why [it] resulted to the instantaneous death because he exerted effort to make her silent,” according to Col. Cañete. 

Cañete has not confirmed the rape incident, though, pending the result of an autopsy.

“There is no evidence to show it, very vital is the release of the report of the crime laboratory, the official report of course, what is their observation and findings whether or not there was a rape or not…we are still waiting,” according to Cañete.

The suspect is set to face charges for murder. 

It was learned that the suspect was earlier charged for illegal possession of firearms.

Members of the Inayawan Police Station 7 of the CCPO led by Police Major Jiceree Basitao visited the wake of Charina in Argao. 

Charina’s family learned from the authorities the arrest of alias “Darren.”