Bataan woman’s body found in garbage bag under her own bed; police looking for husband

• A 35-year-old woman was found dead on Saturday, hidden in a garbage bag under her bed in Samal, Bataan, after being missing for three days
• Investigators believe the victim was strangled with an electrical wire by her security guard husband following a heated domestic dispute
• The victim’s sister revealed the couple had separated due to the husband's infidelity and that he killed her after she refused to reconcile
• Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, who fled the scene before the body was discovered by the victim's grieving relatives

A horrifying discovery in Bataan has left a family in mourning and sparked a manhunt after a 35-year-old woman was found dead, her body stuffed inside a garbage bag and hidden beneath her own bed.

Authorities suspect the victim's husband, a security guard, who remains at large following the grim find on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

The victim, identified by local reports as "Jenel," had been missing for three days before her family made the discovery in their home in Sitio Adamson, Barangay Gugo, Samal.

Read also

Shooting of vegetable vendor caught on terrifying livestream

Distraught relatives entered the bedroom after noticing a foul odor, eventually finding the woman’s remains concealed in a black plastic bag tucked away under the bed frame.

Forensic investigators believe the victim was strangled to death. Preliminary evidence suggests an electrical wire was used as a ligature, which was found near the scene.

The body was reportedly in the early stages of decomposition, consistent with the timeline of her disappearance earlier that week.

The primary suspect in the killing is the victim's husband, whose identity is being withheld pending a formal warrant.

According to the victim's sister, Linabe Arguelles, the couple had recently separated after the suspect allegedly engaged in an extramarital affair.

"Naghiwalay po talaga sila dahil ‘yung lalaki, nambabae po," Arguelles told 24 Oras Weekend. "Ang gusto niyang mangyari, magkabalikan silang mag-asawa. Eh ayaw na po ng kapatid ko. Ibang klase ang ginawa niya sa kapatid namin. Brutal ‘yung ginawa niya."

The family believes the suspect's inability to accept the end of the marriage led to the violent outburst.

As of Sunday, January 18, local police have launched a hot pursuit operation to locate the security guard.

Read also

65-year-old grandmother shot dead while washing dishes inside her home

Authorities are coordinating with nearby municipalities and reviewing any available security footage from the area to track his escape.

The community of Samal has expressed outrage over the incident, with local women's rights advocates calling for swifter action against domestic violence.

Police are urging anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts to contact the Samal Municipal Police Station immediately.

In other news, a 35-year-old male was taken into custody after allegedly grabbing a smartphone worth P30,000 from a patron at a local eatery in Quezon City. The suspect was successfully located by law enforcement because he inadvertently left his personal identification at the scene and was monitored via the victim’s GPS tracking software. During the arrest at the suspect’s residence, officers recovered the stolen mobile device along with a prohibited "paltik" or homemade firearm. Authorities have intensified their search for a motorcycle rider who is believed to have served as the getaway driver during the incident.

Still in other news, a 65-year-old woman tragically lost her life after being targeted by two gunmen while she was in the middle of evening chores at her residence in Umingan, Pangasinan. Forensic teams are currently analyzing a dropped hat and a spent .9mm shell casing found at the crime scene to help identify the assailants, who escaped on a motorcycle. Police Major Jimmy Paningbatan confirmed that the investigation is prioritizing a "personal grudge" motive, as the victim was shot specifically in the neck and torso. Emergency responders rushed the elderly victim to a nearby hospital, but she was declared dead upon arrival due to the severity of the gunshot wounds sustained in the attack.

Source: KAMI.com.gh