A grandma was horrifically burned alive by her own family in a barbaric cult killing which they claimed was meant to "purge her sins".
Teofila Camungay Cabusas, 84, from the town of Balingasag in Misamis Oriental province, the Philippines, was reportedly thrown into a bonfire screaming and crying by her 11 relatives.
They claimed the purpose of this was to "purge" the matriarch of her sins after Teofila allegedly refused to join their newly formed religious group.
The cult's suspected leader and Teofila's grandson, Cresanto Ercilla, 22, reportedly also beat her up for "being a sinner".
Her anguished screams were heard by neighbours, who were horrified and put a stop to the alleged killing.
They rushed the severely injured pensioner to the hospital, but she succumbed to third-degree burns all over her body and was declared dead five hours later.
After being engulfed by the flames, Teofila was rushed to hospital, but succumbed to third-degree burns over her body and was pronounced dead five hours later.
Now, authorities have confirmed that seven of the people who were involved in the grim alleged crime have been arrested.
However, four other residents of the town in Barangay Baliwagan are still at large.
Speaking to local media, Balingasag Police Chief Major Teodoro de Oro said the victim had received a pension of 9,000 PHP (£137) days before the incident.
But the family - who reportedly did not receive a cut of the money - believed they were entitled to the cash.
Cresanto, according to police reports, also claimed he was possessed by the spirit of Tomas Eugenio, who is the the deceased founder of the Philippine Benevolent Christian Missionary (PBCM) to which Teofila belonged to.
The 22-year-old reportedly said the spirit told him to tell the family that the pensioner was a 'sinner' and responsible for all the hardships they were experiencing in their lives.
Alongside this incident, investigators have also cited conflicts of faith between the family that led to the alleged murder.
De Oro said: "The suspects said they committed the crime because the grandmother refused to recognise Cresanto as the leader of the new religious group called Messenger of God."
Currently, those from the family that have been arrested are being held at Balingasag Municipal Police Station, with Cresanto placed in his own cell after he reportedly turned violent with other inmates.
The Misamis Oriental Police Director, Colonel Gonzalo Villamor Jr., said that the fanatics are facing parricide (the killing of a parent or other near relative), as police continue to hunt down the remaining perpetrators.
