A 55-year-old man shot dead his wife, three children, and househelp then killed himself, inside their home in Talisay City, Cebu, Sunday morning, police said.

Emmanuel Ponce shot his wife Melinda, 53, a Banco de Oro branch manager in Cebu City; children Elaine Grace, 26, Heether Joy, 25, Enlin Bridge, 18; and helper Anatacia Deniega, 30, around 8:30 a.m., inside their home which is just back of the Gaisano Mall in Brgy. Tabunok, provincial police director Senior Supt. Patrocinio Commendador said.

“The father, after shooting his wife, daughters, and helper shot himself with same firearm,” Commendador said in a text message.

Ponce reportedly arrived home “very drunk” and had an altercation with his wife before the shooting, the police official said, citing results of initial investigation.

The suspect, however, did not shoot another daughter, Ebralaine Joy, 14, who he even reportedly asked to call the authorities. (John Roson)

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