A 67-year-old sari-sari store owner was found dead following a fire in Pagsanjan, Laguna, but an autopsy later revealed that she had been stabbed in the neck before the blaze, leading police to investigate what initially appeared to be a fire-related death as a suspected murder.
The victim, identified as Divina Minaya, was discovered inside her burned store in Barangay Magdapio early Friday, October 16. Neighbors had rushed to extinguish the flames after noticing the fire, while relatives initially believed Minaya had escaped because the store’s entrance was open. Her body was eventually found on a bed inside the establishment, which reportedly operated around the clock.
Questions surrounding her death prompted the family to request an autopsy. Investigators subsequently confirmed that a neck wound, rather than injuries from the fire, caused her death. Pagsanjan Police Chief Maj. Gerald Balansi said the medical findings led authorities to pursue a criminal investigation.
Security footage provided investigators with a possible lead. Police said the victim was seen speaking with a 24-year-old male relative known as “Enzo,” apparently discussing an unpaid debt of more than ₱3,000. Minaya was reportedly holding a notebook believed to contain records of customers’ outstanding balances, while the man was seen carrying a bladed weapon and consuming alcohol.
The actual attack was not captured on camera because the suspect allegedly disconnected the store’s CCTV system. However, footage from a nearby barangay camera reportedly showed him leaving the establishment shortly before the fire started, strengthening investigators’ suspicions about his involvement.
Following police operations, Enzo surrendered and admitted stabbing the elderly woman, according to authorities. He claimed that he had been heavily intoxicated and could not fully explain his actions. He also denied intentionally starting the fire, despite acknowledging that he had tampered with electrical wiring and cleaned the weapon after the incident.
Investigators later recovered a machete believed to have been used in the killing from the roof of the suspect’s residence. Police said they were preparing a murder complaint, with a possible additional arson charge depending on the evidence gathered concerning the fire.
For Minaya’s family, the investigation has brought painful answers but little relief. Her daughter, Cindy Minaya, expressed disbelief over the circumstances of her mother’s death and called for justice, particularly over the possibility that the store had been deliberately burned.
The case has also raised concerns about the vulnerability of elderly individuals operating small neighborhood businesses, particularly those working alone during late-night hours. While police continue establishing the full circumstances of the crime, the family’s appeal centers on accountability for the killing and the destruction of the victim’s store.
Image from Pagsanjan Police