MANILA, Philippines - The family of a woman who was stabbed 14 times by her boyfriend on the night of Dec. 24, her 21st birthday, has only one Christmas wish this year: swift justice.

Mary Jane Hamtig was declared dead on arrival at the New Era Hospital that same night.

Her boyfriend, Michael Mendoza, 20, surrendered the next day to Talipapa police station commander Superintendent Danilo Mendoza and admitted to attacking her near her friend’s house in Barangay Culiat at around 7:30 p.m.

Hamtig’s mother, Marilyn, said their family attended mass on the dawn of Dec. 24 and visited the Quezon Memorial Circle, not knowing that this was the last time they would spend Christmas Eve together.

Marilyn said they will bury her daughter in 2017, as they still want to spend the New Year with her.

“Bilang ina, kulang ang buhay niya. Pero wala kaming magagawa, gusto lang naming magkaroon ng hustisya ang anak ko (As a mother, his life is not enough. But we cannot do anything, we just want justice for my daughter),” she said.

Mendoza faces murder charges, the Talipapa police station chief said.

Jealous lover

Mendoza claimed he blacked out as he stabbed Hamtig with a sharp metal object.

He alleged that he and Hamtig argued because she had been in a relationship with him and another man.

He claimed Hamtig started the fight and slapped him, while witnesses said they saw him dragging the victim by her hair.

Marilyn said witnesses saw clumps of hair and blood at the crime scene and that they saw Mendoza dragging her daughter’s body toward a nearby creek.

She called Mendoza a “coward” when he fled after several men started chasing him.

Aside from stabbing her in the chest and different parts of the body, one of the victim’s wrists was also slashed open.

Mendoza said he regrets taking the life of his girlfriend and what could be his unborn child.

A pregnancy test kit, showing a positive result, was found in one of the pockets of Hamtig’s dress when she was taken to the hospital.