A barangay health worker (BHW) and her three children were found dead early Monday, June 29, 2026, inside their home in Barangay Litapan, Josefina, Zamboanga del Sur, according to the police.
Victims identified
Police identified the victims as Arlene Dumalte, 42, a barangay health worker, and her three children: Nashyl, 16; En-en, 14; and Arnel, 11.
“They all sustained multiple stab wounds,” said Police Lieutenant Julito Pamalaran, chief of police in Josefina, in a statement to reporters.
Discovery of the bodies
The tragedy was discovered around 6:45 a.m. on Monday, June 29, by Litapan Barangay Councilor Alejo Indangan while he was on his way to his farm.
Indangan immediately reported to the police after he saw the bloodied arm of a woman protruding from a damaged portion of the house wall.
Time of death estimated
Police estimate the victims may have been killed around midnight on Saturday, June 27, because the children were still seen around 8 p.m. on the same day at a nearby public Wi-Fi station.
Pamalaran vowed to do everything to bring justice to the victims.
