A man was arrested by the police on Sunday for killing his own mother after he thought that she was an aswang. The son, whom the police believe is mentally ill, beat her up first and set her on fire. The crime occurred in Barangay (village) Cabadiangan in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.
An aswang is a local mythical shape-shifting creature. While descriptions vary from one region of the Philippines to another, they are often female who eat fetuses or young children.
The 63-year-old victim was with three grandchildren at her home when she was seen by the 42-year-old suspect. ABS-CBN reported that the suspect told the police that he saw his mother with her eyes red and her tongue appearing elongated and sticking out.
Thinking that she was an aswang, he hit her with a shovel which made her lose consciousness. He dragged her to an outhouse where he set her body on fire.
The woman’s grandchildren, all below 10 years old, managed to run away to ask for help, reported GMA News. The police arrested the suspect who confessed to committing the crime.
According to reports, the suspect hasn’t been sleeping and eating for at least three days before the crime occurred.
Currently detained at the police station, he will be charged with parricide.
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