ILOILO City – A family is pressing murder charges against a 45-year-old man who allegedly killed his 65-year-old sister, wrapped her body, and attempted to seal it inside a kitchen wall at their home in Zone 2, Barangay Compania Central, Molo district.
Police identified the victim as Marilou Jean Layson, 65, a single government employee. The suspect is her younger brother, alias “Reg”, 45, who is unemployed.
Captain Ryan Christ Inot, chief of Iloilo City Police Station 4 (ICPS4), said investigators believe the crime occurred between 12 noon and 1 p.m. on Oct. 3.
The victim’s body was discovered later that evening, between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., after relatives grew suspicious when the house was unusually locked and repeated calls inviting her to dinner went unanswered.
In an interview with Panay News, Inot said relatives requested police assistance after noticing a freshly cut hole in a kitchen wall behind a cabinet.
“Kagab-i (Oct. 3), around 6:30 to 7 p.m., nakabaton kita sang report sa pamilya mismo kay need nila police assistance kay napangita nila ang ila magulang. Kag sang nakita nila, ara na sa dingding ka ila nga kitchen, ginbuhu-an sang ila nga utod nga ila ginatumod nga amo ang suspect,” Inot told Panay News.
“So, nagkadto kita sa area, gin-verify naton, nagtawag kita sang SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operations), kag gin-imbestigahan naton, kag ginplanohan man naton ang pagdakop sa suspect,” Inot said.
Gruesome cover-up
Inot said the victim and suspect lived together in a family compound comprising four families. The victim had been supporting and caring for her unemployed younger brother.
“Duha lang sila sa ila sulod balay. Laon ang magulang ya nga babayi (victim) kay siya ang nagasagod sa iya manghod nga (suspect),” the ICPS4 chief said.
Relatives became concerned around 5:30 p.m. when the house was locked from the inside — a rare occurrence for the household.
Upon forcing entry, family members noticed a wet floor, disarrayed belongings, and blue paint leaking from a kitchen cabinet along the rear wall.
Police revealed that the suspect wrapped his sister’s body in a mosquito net, stuffed it inside a wall cabinet, and cut into the partition. He attempted to seal the compartment with concrete and paint over it to create a false double-wall and permanently conceal the corpse.
“Tuyo siya ilubong sa buho, kay didto siya nakita sa buho. Kay ang plano gid sang utod niya, sang nagpatay, nga sementuhon to, kay once nga sementuhon to, mabalik sa gihapon sa porma nga dingding lang siya,” Inot said. “Unfortunately, ang dingding nga ato, hawan ang space sa likod, amo nga bulky siya lantawon. Nga kon once matabunan siya ka semento, daw dingding sa gihapon lantawon, may double wall siya.”
Neighbors noted that the siblings had been arguing frequently over the past two days, though relatives initially considered the disagreements routine.
“Last two days pa sila gaaway kag binaisay. Kag sang gab-i to, naka–feedback pa ang utod nga nagtawag nga ma-invite nga makaon sa gwa, pero hambal ka victim nga indi lang anay siya kay mapahuway siya aga. Sang pila ka hapon nabatian sila nga nagbinaisay naman sila. Para sa ila daw normal lang ang ila baisanay,” Inot said.
Pursuit and arrest
Following the discovery, police launched a manhunt and captured the suspect between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Bangga Panot, Barangay San Juan, Molo.
CCTV footage tracked his escape toward the neighboring district of Arevalo, where he attempted to pawn his mobile phone at a lodging house to fund his flight.
“Sang gin-backtracking naton ang mga CCTV, una naton siya nakita nga nagsakay sa e-bike going to Villa, Arevalo. Pag-abot sa Arevalo, may naka-istorya kita nga bantay sa lodging house didto nga naghambal nga nagstorya sila tungod ang cellphone ya tani inugprenda ya kay need ya kuno kwarta para makapalagyo,” said Inot.
According to family members, the suspect has a history of psychiatric struggles and had previously undergone treatment at a rehabilitation facility in Pototan, Iloilo for substance and behavioral issues.
“Waay nadayon ang iya tuyo kay nagsala siya kag nagsaka naman ang iya nga sakit kay gina patihan nga may sakit siya sa paminsaron. Ini ang confirmation sang pamilya. Kag nakaagi naman ni siya rehab… regarding sa iya nga bisyo nga sugal, sigarilyo, kag inom,” he added.
Police are also investigating potential ties to illegal drug use, noting that the suspect sought refuge with drug-linked acquaintances while on the run.
Inot confirmed that ICPS4 is finalizing the complaint and that the family is fully committed to pursuing charges. The murder charge against the suspect is scheduled to be formally filed on Oct. 5.
“Ma-file gid sila case… So ma-file kita sang murder charge,” said Inot./PN
