The trisikad driver who beheaded his own mother for allegedly looking like an “aswang (witch)” in Purok Villa Esperanza, Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City, Thursday is now facing parricide charges.
         
Percival Gabitanan, 34, was charged yesterday afternoon, before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office, Police Officer 2 Roberto Gaurana Jr., Police Station 8 case investigator, said.
         
The cadaver of Elidena, also surnamed Gabitanan, 70, is now at the chapel of Purok Villa Esperanza, Gaurana said.
         
Percival, who is still detained at Station 8, denied yesterday that he did the crime, contrary to what he said to the police and the media on Thursday.
         
Gaurana said they are waiting for a commitment order from the court to transfer Percival to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
         
The PNP now considers the case solved, since the suspect has been arrested and charged, Gaurana said.
         
Earlier Percival said that he beheaded his mother since her face allegedly kept  changing while he was talking to her.
        
Elidena’s headless and half-naked body was found behind their house, bathed in her own blood, while her head was on the floor of their house, next to a bed, the police said.
         
Her hands and feet were tied with a piece of cloth and a plastic bag.

Percival had said he dragged his mother outside the house and stabbed her chest with a bamboo stick, and when it did not pierce her, he hit her with a bamboo pole, then tied her hands and feet, and hacked her with a bolo, he added.

Percival admitted to the police and the DAILY STAR on Thursday the allegations of his neighbors that he had been using illegal drugs.

Investigation showed that after he hacked his mother, Percival washed the head with water, and placed it on the floor. He also cleaned the bolo he had used and placed   on the table with the whetstone, the police said.

Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella has directed the police to intensify its campaign against illegal drugs following the beheading incident during the Peace and Order Council meeting Thursday, Councilor El Cid Familiaran said yesterday.

He said the Mayor also brought up during the meeting the Philippine Drug Enforcement Drug Summit to be held in the city on the first week of August, to be spearheaded by the Department of Social Services and Development.*CGS/SGG

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