By Jennifer P. Rendon and Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – A 73-year-old woman and her daughter were found dead inside their home at Sitio Riles, Barangay Lanot, on Wednesday morning, May 7.
The victims were identified as Elma Perla, 73, and her daughter, Ruby Jean Perla, 36, a virtual assistant.
Their bodies were discovered around 10:20 a.m. in the living room of their home, with both women lying in pools of blood and suffering from head injuries believed to have been inflicted with a hard object.
Ruby Jean’s 8-year-old son, who is on the autism spectrum, reportedly sought help from a neighbor, shouting, “Wawa is going to the hospital. Open the door.”
Roselyn Padio, Elma’s niece and neighbor, said she initially rang the doorbell multiple times with no response.
She then climbed over the gate and entered through the unlocked kitchen door, where she found Elma unresponsive and covered in blood.
She later found Ruby Jean in the same area, partially undressed and also bloodied.
Members of the Capiz Emergency Response Team (CERT) responded to the scene but did not transport the victims to the hospital after confirming they had no vital signs.
Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Jomuad, the newly appointed Roxas City police chief, said the attack likely occurred between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.
Closed-circuit television footage showed Ruby Jean’s vehicle entering their premises at 5:01 a.m., consistent with her regular schedule after returning home from work.
It was learned that Ruby Jean usually arrived home around 4 a.m. from her job as a call center agent.
Neighbors reported hearing a commotion at 4 a.m., but dismissed it at the time, assuming it was a usual household occurrence.
Police found no signs of forcible entry and no weapons at the crime scene.
Jomuad said investigators are looking into the motive, including the possibility that the suspects were searching for something inside the home.
As of this writing, police continue to gather evidence and interview possible witnesses.
