20-year-old architecture student killed in 'crime of passion' in Lipa City

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“Crime of passion” is being looked at as the motive behind the killing of a 20-year-old architecture student in Lipa City, Batangas.

In a Saksi report by Joseph Morong on Monday, the remains of victim Jazmine Iya Martinez were found in Barangay Duhatan. Her body bore five stab wounds.

CCTV footage from the Lipa City Police showed the victim being followed by a man on a motorcycle as she walked along the road.

Twelve days after the crime was committed, the rider was arrested on suspicion he fatally stabbed Martinez. The suspect, identified as Alias Lance, admitted to the crime.

“Sa nangyari po kay Jazmine, humihingi po ako ng tawad sa pamilya. Natatakot na ako, nakonsensya na ako kaya lumapit na po ako,” he said.

(I ask forgiveness to Jazmine’s family for what happened to her. I am now scared, my conscience has led me to come out.)

Alias Lance was also identified through the clothes he was wearing based on the video footage taken in a barangay and a construction site several hours before the crime. He surrendered the said items along with a knife, a cellphone and a motorcycle as evidence to police.

He said he received P10,000 from the mastermind, an Alias Kevin, to kill Martinez.

Alias Lance also claimed the mastermind threatened to kill him if he told anyone what transpired.

Police said Alias Kevin had courted the victim for two years and that they believe her death is a “crime of passion”. He is now under police custody and has denied involvement in the killing.

The victim’s parents said they do not know any of the suspects and had no knowledge one of them was courting her.

“Wala po kaming ideya po noon kasi ‘pag tinatanong namin ‘yung bata, wala siyang sinasabing nanliligaw po sa kanya. Hindi niya pinapansin,” said Crisanto Martinez, the victim’s father.

(We had no idea because when we asked our daughter, she mentioned no one was courting her. She did not pay any attention to them.)

The victim’s parents said they are seeking justice with the arrest of the two suspects. —RF, GMA News