Woman allegedly assaults her sister for talking negatively about her to family

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 17, 2025, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a suspect reporting that she had gotten into a “fight” with her sister.

The caller/suspect was later arrested for causing a disturbance and assaulting her sister. She was charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300.00, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of up to one year, a fine not to exceed $300.00, or both; and,

Count 3: Assault in the Third Degree (As a C Misd.) (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300.00, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

An affidavit, filed in the District Court on Nov. 18th, reveals that the day before, Vaaipu Filipo (suspect) reported that she was involved in an altercation with her sister, Sulugia Filipo (victim). Vaaipu requested that her sister and brother-in-law be removed from her residence in Pavaiai.

Police officers responded to the call and, upon arrival at the scene, they made contact with a couple. According to the woman (later identified as the victim), she and her husband had returned home from work when she was awakened by her sister (suspect) pulling her hair and punching her. While trying to stand up, the suspect kicked her in the stomach.

She noted that she was three months pregnant.

Her husband intervened by pushing the suspect away to de-escalate the situation.

The suspect then walked outside, retrieved a machete, returned to the house, and threatened her, saying, “Is this what you want? You want me to cut off your head with the machete?”

The victim claimed that the conflict stemmed from an incident from the previous day, after she had called her other sister in Samoa. She stated that her sister in Samoa then called the suspect and told her the suspect was speaking negatively about her. The victim denied the allegations.

After obtaining the victim’s statement, the authorities proceeded to interview the victim’s husband (later identified as the witness). According to the husband, he and his wife were asleep after work when they were awakened by the suspect pulling on the victim’s hair, punching her, and also kicking her in the stomach and she is pregnant.

The husband stated that he pushed the suspect away in an effort to protect his pregnant wife. He also confirmed that the suspect later exited the house and returned with a machete and threatened the victim. He claimed he stood between the sisters to de-escalate the situation, but was unsuccessful.

After collecting the statements, the officers interviewed the suspect.

Vaaipu stated that she was upset because the victim had called her sister and mother in Samoa and allegedly spread false information about her. She confronted Sulugia the day before, but tension remained in the household.

The suspect denied assaulting her sister, stating instead that they “fought”. She claimed that the victim grabbed a stone, which prompted her to get the machete. However, Vaaipu admitted to threatening Sulugia with the machete.

The suspect was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility, to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]