Son kills mom, claims she's an 'aswang'

A 63-YEAR-OLD woman died after she was struck and burned to death by her "mentally-ill" son in their residence in Barangay Cabadiangan, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental on Sunday, November 11.

The victim was identified as Gloria Eseng.

Chief Inspector Anthony Grande said the victim was sitting inside their house, along with her three grandchildren aged six, seven, and eight years old when the suspect, Rolando Eseng, 42, suddenly hit her forehead with a shovel four times.

Grande said that when the victim was unconscious, Rolando, the victim's son, dragged her to the comfort room, five meters away from their house, where he lighted the coarse grasses and burned his mother.

The victim’s grandchildren, including the suspect’s eight-year-old son, witnessed the incident. They immediately called for help.

The suspect’s son went to his aunt’s house and informed her about the incident.

When the aunt arrived, along with the village watchmen, they saw Rolando in the area and immediately arrested him. He was then brought to the police station for custody.

Grande said the suspect is aware that he killed his mother and claimed he only did the crime because he thought his mother was an “aswang” (shapeshifting evil spirit).

Prior to the incident, the suspect was not able to eat and sleep for three days. He held bladed weapons for an unknown reason, he added.

Grande said his family recently noticed the sudden change in his behavior when his wife left him in 2016.

He added that the family is willing to pursue parricide charges against the suspect, who was isolated from other detainees in the custodial facility.