BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO City – A dispute over an outstanding debt, suspected to be tied to illegal drug transactions, spiraled into a deadly encounter in Zone 1, Barangay Baldoza, La Paz district, leaving two men dead.
The confrontation unfolded at approximately 6 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Stephene “Balwig” Dipamaylo, 35, approached George “Panoy” Antipona, 42, to collect a pending debt.
Antipona, however, expressed his inability to pay at the moment.
As tensions escalated, Antipona departed the scene, asking Dipamaylo to stay put for his return.
The situation took a violent turn when Antipona came back armed and shot Dipamaylo.
In a swift retaliation, Dipamaylo attacked Antipona with a machete.
Background checks revealed that both individuals had alleged links to the illegal drug trade.
Dipamaylo was known for his drug-related offenses and had only recently gained freedom from prison.
Antipona, too, was reportedly implicated in similar illicit activities, as per claims from local barangay authorities.
Law enforcement officials secured and confiscated Antipona’s makeshift shotgun and Dipamaylo’s machete, measuring 39 centimeters in length./PN