Murder suspect allegedly admits attacking two

The suspect in a knife attack that killed a woman and wounded her husband in Chalan Kanoa Sunday night admitted to police that he took drugs and was heavily drunk on the day he stabbed the couple, according to court documents.

Alfonso Sebastian Parongan, 55, was taken to the Superior Court yesterday to face charges of first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault and battery.

No bail was set for the suspect; preliminary hearing is on Nov. 6 at 1:30pm.

Parongan was first taken in court yesterday at 9:30am, but Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho moved the hearing to 1:30pm as there was no interpreter.

Parongan, a Filipino national, works as a part-time welder at an auto shop in Lower Base. He refused to answer when asked if he has a passport. He was represented yesterday by assistant public defender Nancy Dominski.

Chief prosecutor Michele Harris asked the court not to impose bail, considering the seriousness of the charges.

Harris also noted that the injured victim, Antonio “Abet” Malamanig Barrit, 62, was in the courtroom with family members. Barrit had a bandage on his head and right arm due to multiple stab wounds. Shortly after the hearing, Barrit comforted some family members who were seen hugging and crying outside the courtroom.

Barrit’s wife, Josephina Pineda, 53, also a Filipino national, died of multiple stab wounds on the night of the attack.

Police said the attack happened outside the victims’ house beside the Lao Mart along Texas Road. Parongan was arrested that same night. He is a tenant of the victims. His house is located beside the victims’ residence.

In a police interview at the Department of Corrections on Monday, Parongan admitted to having smoking methamphetamine or “ice” that Sunday, said police detective Buddy S. Igitol.

Parongan also told police that he drank 16 cans of beer with a couple of friends at a store in San Antonio until nighttime that same day.

Igitol said that Parongan returned to his home at about 7pm. Shortly after, Pineda came and asked him about his house rental payment.

After informing Pineda that his payment will be delayed, Pineda allegedly continued harassing him. Parongan said he got frustrated with what he described as continued harassment over the year, prompting him to get inside his house.

Parongan said he grabbed a big stainless kitchen knife, got out from his room, and began stabbing Pineda several times with the weapon.

He said Pineda stumbled several feet away from his unit door and fell face first onto the floor.
Parongan stated he stabbed Pineda again with the knife before he attempted to flee from the scene.
As he was about to escape, Parongan said he saw Barrit. Parongan chased Barrit, who fell to the ground. Parongan said he then hacked Barrit several times with the knife.

Someone then hit him with an unknown object, prompting him to run from the area.

Igitol said preliminary investigation showed that Parongan and Pineda’s argument outside the victims’ house attracted the attention of the victims’ son, Jeffrey, who went out to check on the commotion and saw his father running to their house.

Jeffrey said he noticed that his father was bleeding heavily from the head and told him to check on his mother. He found his mother face down, unconscious and covered in blood several feet north of the family residence.

Jeffrey identified Parongan, also known as Arlan, at the scene.

Igitol said a doctor at the Commonwealth Health Center told him that Pineda had multiple lacerations on the head and upper body.

Pineda was pronounced dead at the hospital due to a stab wound in the neck. Barrit was treated for several injuries on the head and arm. He was soon stabilized and admitted at CHC.

In an interview with police at CHC, Barrit said he was outside his home, just a short distance from where the incident took place, and was securing his tools in his boat at the time of the incident.
He said his wife, Pineda, had gone to Parongan’s unit to collect payment for rent when he heard the two having an argument.

Antonio said he then saw Parongan shove Pineda, causing her to fall face down on the floor.
Barrit said he got down from the boat to check on his wife, but Parongan, who was holding a knife, immediately chased him.

Barrit said he tripped and fell to the ground and Parongan attacked him with the knife several times.