Woman killed in knife attack

A woman was killed while her husband was seriously injured when their tenant allegedly attacked them with a kitchen knife outside their house beside Lao Mart along Texas Road in Chalan Kanoa Sunday night.

The 52-year-old Filipino woman, who was pronounced dead at the Commonwealth Health Center, had multiple stab wounds, according to acting police spokesman Lt. Jason Tarkong.

Sources identified the victim as Josefina Pineda, who used to work as operations manager for Xtreme Marine Sports.

Tarkong said the husband, a 62-year-old Filipino male, was last reported to be at the intensive care unit of CHC due to injuries in the arms and head.

Sources identified the husband as Tony Barit, also known as Abet or Ambet.

Tarkong said the suspect, Alfonso S. Parongan, 55, a Filipino male, was arrested by police. He had attempted to hide in the jungle area behind the victims’ residence.

Tarkong said that police responded to a reported stabbing incident near Lao Mart in Chalan Kanoa on Sunday at 7:56pm, and learned that there were two victims.

Medics of the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services did chest compressions on Pineda while transporting her and her husband to CHC’s emergency room.

Tarkong said the preliminary investigation showed that Parongan and Pineda had an argument.

Parongan then stabbed Pineda with a knife, causing fatal injuries.

Parongan then chased Barit and stabbed him with the knife, causing serious injuries.

Tarkong said that witnesses were able to stop the incident and Parongan ran away.

A witness told Saipan Tribune that the argument happened in front of Parongan’s room in the victims’ compound. Parongan has been renting/staying in a room that used to be a storage room.

The witness said that Pineda had asked Parongan to pay a power bill.

The witness said their neighbor then saw Parongan stabbing Pineda, who fell to the ground.

He said Barit, who was fixing a boat in the same compound, noticed the commotion.

The witness said Parongan then chased Barit, who got down from the boat and ran toward his house. He said Parongan caught up with Barit and hacked him with the knife.

The witness said Barit managed to block the knife with his hands, but still ended up getting hit on the arms and head. Bloodstains could be seen at the main gate of the victims’ house.

The suspect then ran toward the back of the compound, where he hid in the bushy area.

The witness said he saw Pineda sprawled in a pool of blood on the ground.

Another witness told Saipan Tribune that he led the police to the bushy area, where he last saw Parongan flee.

Another witness also managed to take a video on his cellphone of the commotion and of the bloodied Barit. Police took the witness’ cellphone for evidence.

Police recovered the knife at the scene.

Neighbors described Pineda as a very nice person and Barit as an expert in repairing boats.