Suspect in storage box killing surrenders; claims fatal fall of live-in partner was an accident

• The security guard suspected of killing Anelis Agocoy surrendered in Batangas and was turned over to Cabuyao Police at midnight on January 7, 2026
• The suspect’s father confirmed his son admitted to the act but claimed it was an "accidental push" during a heated, alcohol-fueled argument
• Investigators used CCTV and bus terminal records to trace the storage box from Laguna to the river in Basud, Camarines Norte
• Initial police findings suggest a "love triangle" or extreme jealousy sparked the fatal encounter before the suspect attempted to hide the remains as cargo

The cross-regional search for the person behind one of the new year's most gruesome discoveries reached a somber conclusion on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

Shortly after midnight, the primary suspect in the death of Anelis Agocoy surrendered to authorities in Rosario, Batangas, before being transported to the Cabuyao City Police Station for processing.

The case, which gripped the nation after a black plastic storage box containing Agocoy’s remains was found floating in the Pinagwarasan River in Basud, Camarines Norte on January 2, has now shifted from a manhunt to a complex legal battle.

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The suspect, a security guard and Agocoy’s live-in partner, chose not to speak with the media but briefly expressed his cooperation, stating he surrendered because he trusts the police to "clear his name."

However, a more detailed and emotional account emerged from the suspect’s father.

In a tearful admission, the father revealed that his son had confessed to the killing, but insisted it was a tragic accident fueled by a domestic dispute and intoxication.

"Tinanong ko po siya kung totoo talaga ito, ang sabi niya, hindi raw niya sinasadyang naitulak niya yung babae, lasing na lasing siya at nag-away sila. Tapos pagbagsak daw eh binubuhat niya raw eh wala nang malay, hindi na raw niya alam kung anong gagawin niya," the father shared.

He further suggested that the suspect might have acted in self-defense, alleging that Agocoy had allegedly attacked his son with a broken bottle during a jealous confrontation.

The victim, 38-year-old Anelis Agocoy from Camiguin, had been living with the suspect in Laguna before her life was cut short. Police backtracking of CCTV footage revealed a cold and calculated logistical effort to hide the crime.

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The suspect was seen transporting the heavy storage box—which he told bus conductors contained "groceries and tools"—on an eight-hour journey from Laguna to the suspect's hometown in Camarines Norte.

While the surrender brings a semblance of peace to Agocoy's family, including her cousin Mae Jean Abamonga who helped identify her through distinct tattoos, the "accidental" narrative will now be tested in court.

Inquest proceedings began at 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, as investigators piece together whether this was a moment of panicked self-defense or a cold-blooded attempt to literally box away a life.

In other news, a 16-year-old boy named John Ric Hiligan, who was a person with autism, tragically lost his life after being trapped during a residential fire in Barangay Malanday, Valenzuela City, on January 5, 2026. The victim’s father was out working as a jeepney driver and his mother was away following a domestic dispute, leaving the teenager at home with his two younger siblings when the emergency began. Preliminary reports suggest the fire may have been ignited by a lighter; neighbors and family noted that the boy often used the device as a sensory tool to help him remain calm. The fast-moving blaze destroyed four homes and displaced several families; local barangay officials have set up modular tents to provide temporary shelter for those who lost everything.

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Still in other news, a cellphone technician was killed in a brazen shooting right outside his place of business in Plaridel, Bulacan, following a heated argument with a man who was once his close associate. Investigators believe the violence was fueled by a "love triangle" and a personal grudge, specifically over the victim's alleged secret involvement with the suspect's romantic partner. Following the attack, local police launched a manhunt that successfully tracked the fleeing suspect to Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, where he was apprehended by Bulacan operatives. Beyond the murder charge, the suspect faces additional counts for possessing an unlicensed firearm that he reportedly acquired through an online transaction.

Source: KAMI.com.gh