Zamboanga massacre suspect nabbed

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

July 3, 2026 | 12:00am

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A suspect in the murder of a barangay health worker and her three teenage children in Josefina, Zamboanga del Sur has been arrested.

The suspect, identified as Frankie Camiguing, 27, was collared at his mother’s house in Barangay Panagaan in Mahayag town yesterday, two days after the bodies of the victims were discovered by neighbors.

Police said the suspect admitted to killing his partner, Arlyn Dumalte, 42, and her children Arnel, 12; En-en, 15, and Nassel, 17, whose remains were found at their house in Barangay Litapan on Monday.

Camiguing’s family told probers that he fled on foot and hid in the mountains for four days before going to his mother’s house in Barangay Panagaan on Wednesday night.

The family said Camiguing told them that he wanted to surrender.

“He told me to call his brother, Jay-jay, and that he would surrender,” Camiguing’s mother Rosabel told local journalists. “He was remorseful and feeling guilty over what he did to Arlyn and the children.”

Rosabel said her son and Dumalte had been living together for two years and often quarreled due to jealousy.

She said the suspect told her that on Saturday night, he and Dumalte had an argument, which ended in the physical assault and death of the woman.

“According to my son, he lost his mind and killed the children who were screaming during the incident,” Rosabel said.