BACOLOD City — A drinking spree turned deadly in Murcia, while two other alcohol-fueled altercations left two men injured in separate incidents in Kabankalan City and San Carlos City on Sunday, July 5, police said.
The fatality was reported in Purok La Roca, Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia, where a 51-year-old sugarcane worker, identified only as alias “Pido,” was hacked to death at around 10:45 p.m.
Police said the victim was drinking inside his house with the suspect, alias “Jojo,” 41, a truck driver, when the two figured in a heated argument.
Investigators said the suspect allegedly drew a bolo and repeatedly hacked the victim, inflicting fatal wounds on different parts of his body.
The victim was rushed to the Murcia Rural Health Unit but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
A hot pursuit operation led to the arrest of the suspect, while police recovered a 30-inch bolo with its scabbard believed to have been used in the attack. The suspect remains in police custody and is facing criminal charges.
In Kabankalan City, a 40-year-old driver, identified only as alias “Rey,” sustained a hack wound on his left leg after an argument with a neighbor in Purok Minaba, Barangay Tampalon, at around 8:30 p.m.
Police said the suspect, alias “Frank,” 53, was drinking with his siblings and allegedly making excessive noise when the victim, who was also reportedly intoxicated, went to the house and asked them to tone it down.
The request allegedly escalated into a confrontation, during which the suspect reportedly grabbed a sugarcane cutter and hacked the victim.
Barangay officials immediately responded, arrested the suspect, and turned him over to the Kabankalan City Police Station. The victim was brought to Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, a 42-year-old farmer, identified only as alias “Anton,” was stabbed during a birthday celebration in Sitio Igmamatay, Barangay Codcod, San Carlos City, at around 5 p.m.
According to police, the victim and the suspect, alias “Raprap,” 25, were drinking when they became involved in an argument. The suspect allegedly grabbed the bladed weapon tucked into the victim’s waist and stabbed him once in the back before fleeing.
The victim was rushed to San Carlos City Hospital for treatment.
Police said the stabbing was reported later that evening, prompting investigators to launch a manhunt for the suspect, who remains at large.
Authorities are continuing their investigations into the three incidents while preparing charges against the arrested suspects and pursuing the remaining suspect./PN
