Police withdraw ‘parricide’ case against late wife
THE father of the couple who died in a fire in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, has withdrawn the Parricide case against the mother of his children after she passed away at a hospital in Quezon City on May 17.

Authorities said the father, identified as Kim Aspero, a police officer said to be stationed in Batangas, executed an “Affidavit of Desistance.”

Aspero is the father of three boys who were allegedly set on fire by their own mother in Barangay San Vicente, Sta. Maria, Bulacan last Thursday, May 15.

In a delayed report from the Santa Maria Municipal Police Station, the victims were identified as Joycie Aspero y Rodrigo, 31 years old, mother; sons Kairo Aspero, 1 year old; Kyle Andres Aspero, 3 years old; and Kimuel Zeian Aspero, 6 years old, all residents of B24 L26 Joshua St., San Vicente Homes, San Vicente, Santa Maria.

It was learned that before the incident, the victim Joycie and her husband had a disagreement that led to a barangay dispute.

According to Brgy. Captain Tootsie Lorenzo, the deceased woman complained to their office and filed a complaint against her husband, so they set a date to settle the couple’s problem.

But before the scheduled date for the confrontation, the fire broke out, killing the couple while the father of the house was in Batangas working.

In a report from the Santa Maria MPS, during their investigation, it was learned that the mother intentionally burned herself and her three children and it appears that this was due to depression.

The young victims were rushed to the hospital by rescuers but they also died. Meanwhile, the mother, Joycie, who was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center, was able to file a case of “Parricide” at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, City of Malolos, Bulacan by her husband, Kim.

Joycie later died and the complainant, Kim Aspero, executed an “Affidavit of Desistance” sworn before the duty prosecutor.

The said tragic incident went viral on social media, while many said that Joycie was suffering from depression due to postpartum syndrome.

Other netizens blamed the husband’s lack of support for his wife, as well as the in-laws who were allegedly the source of the marital discord.

The woman’s family requested and pleaded with netizens to refrain from giving their opinions on social media because they were not helpful in their grief.