Two cousins are in police custody following the death of an elementary school principal in Eastern Samar, whose body was discovered bearing three stab wounds as classes opened across the province.
The victim, 36-year-old Anthony Pardilan, served as school head of Naga Elementary School in Quinapondan. His remains were recovered Monday morning in a grassy stretch of Barangay Alang-Alang.
Acting on the report, police mounted a hot pursuit that led them to Sitio Sabang in Barangay Ginbalot-an, Sta. Rita, Samar. There, officers detained two suspects identified by the aliases “Jan-jan,” 22, and “Jun-jun,” 18. The pair, who are related as cousins, were taken into custody as the investigation got underway.
Investigators also retrieved Pardilan’s motorcycle, which they suspect the two used to flee the scene after the attack.
According to Police Col. Ernesto Macasil, authorities have yet to establish what prompted the killing, and efforts to determine a motive are continuing.
The Department of Education Regional Office VIII denounced the slaying and voiced its grief over the loss, urging that justice be served quickly. <cite index=”(source)”>”May this tragedy strengthen our shared efforts to build safer schools, peaceful communities, and an environment where educators can perform their duties without fear or harm,”</cite> the agency stated.
