An alleged depressed man killed his live-in partner on her birthday and their two children, and a shot himself in Barangay 4, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Saturday, August 21.
The police identified the slain live-in partner as Mary Rose Egca of Binalbagan town, and withheld the names of her near 2-year-old daughter and 7-month-old son.
The suspect Raymundo Diaz, 59, later died in a hospital in Bacolod City.
Lt. Arturo Margallo Jr., Himamaylan City deputy police chief, said the couple were reportedly arguing inside their house when their helper heard four gunshots.
The helper then ran out of the house to ask their neighbors to call the police, he added.
When the police arrived, Egca was already on the ground with a lone gunshot wound to the head, while Diaz, who was armed with a super .38 caliber pistol, was also beside her.
The two children were also on the floor, with two gunshots each on their faces and head.
The suspect allegedly shot himself after shooting the victims, the police said.
The victims, along with the suspect, were brought to the Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial District Hospital in Himamaylan City where they were declared dead on arrival.
The suspect, who was in critical condition, was transferred to the Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City, where he later expired.
Recovered from the scene was a super .38 caliber pistol with one cartridge loaded in the chamber, and one magazine with three cartridges.
Bimbo Diaz, son of the suspect, said his father was suffering from depression due to pneumonia and diabetes, the police report stated.*