Mother, 3 children hacked, stabbed to death inside Zamboanga del Sur house

A horrific discovery was made in Barangay Litapan, Josefina, Zamboanga del Sur, where a mother and her three young children were found brutally murdered inside their home. Neighbors found the bodies of Arlene Fernan Dumalte, 42, and her daughters, aged 16 and 14, and her 11-year-old son, lying on the floor of their house on Monday morning, June 29.

The victims bore multiple hack and stab wounds across their bodies, indicating a violent and frenzied attack. Local officials and police investigators from the Josefina Municipal Police Station were alerted to the scene after a barangay councilor, Alejo Indangan, noticed the house was unusually silent. He later saw a blood-stained hand protruding from a hole in the wall, prompting him and neighbors to force their way inside.

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He was passing by the victims' house on his way to his farm and noticed that it was unusually silent inside.

Initial theories suggest that at least three to four assailants armed with knives and machetes may be responsible for the killings. Authorities believe the murders likely occurred late Saturday or on Sunday. The victims were last seen alive by neighbors on Saturday night, walking home together. The investigation is ongoing as police work to identify the perpetrators and the motive behind this brutal crime.

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He and neighbors forced their way in and found the victims sprawled on the floor, all dead.