70-year-old ‘witch’ shot dead in Cagayan

By Raymund Catindig

STA. TERESITA, Cagayan --- A 70-year-old woman accused of practicing witchcraft was shot dead by unidentified assailants here last week.

EstrellaSape was found bloodied by her son Eric, 34, in a forested area of Barangay Aridowen.

Town police chief Senior Inspector Manuel Viloria Jr. said Eric heard a burst of gunfire coming from the forest at around 9 a.m. on July 15, but he ignored it.

When Sape failed to come home for lunch, he went out to look for her.

Viloria said the victim had been receiving death threats for allegedly casting spells on the villagers.