Hunt on for suspect in Filipina murder case

Police are conducting a manhunt for a South East Asian man wanted in connection with a murder of a Filipina and an attack on her housemate in Al Ain three weeks ago.

Police sources confirmed they have expanded the search for the man, identified as M.P., to all emirates.

"He is wanted in a murder case by Al Ain police," said a CID official with the Dubai Police.

The husband of the dead woman said M.P. was living with them and another couple in their villa at the time of the incident.

"M.P. had been living with us since September 2," he told Gulf News.

He said the 37-year-old computer engineer was in the UAE on a visit visa while he looked for work.

The husband said his 45-year-old wife was found strangled with an injury to her head in their house after their housemate notified the police after escaping an alleged attack by the suspect.

Meanwhile, the manhunt for M.P. is creating a stir among the Filipino community in the wake of a news report by The Filipino Channel (TFC) on September 18.

"It's a hot topic among the Filipino community. It's on TFC and has been reported in the Philippines too," said a Filipina sales executive residing in Dubai.

"We're all trying hard to think where this guy is," said another Philippine national.

In the dark
Son waits for mother's birthday wishes

While an ambulance carried the body of the murder victim to the morgue and her husband gave his statement to the police, their son in the Philippines waited in vain for his birthday telephone call.

The victim's husband said his son, Jason, waited for days for his parents to call him and wish him a happy birthday. He added that he finally managed to talk to Jason on September 23.

"I was afraid to talk to my son because he is very young and because this was very tragic and I am afraid of how it would affect his mind," he said.

The victim was found murdered September 15, one day before her son, Jason, turned 13, according to her husband.

By the time the man talked to his son, Jason already knew from his aunt and uncle with whom he lived that his mother was dead, though not the cause of her death.

"I didn't tell him that she was murdered. I just said it was an accident," he said.

The mand added that he had originally planned to tell his son the truth after arriving in the Philippines with the body of his wife. However, due to some legal constraints, he was unable to do so.

He said instead he was forced to relegate the duty of explaining the situation to Jason to a friend.

The victim's remains were flown to the Philippines late last week.