BACOLOD City – A 54-year-old laborer was killed in a hacking incident on Sunday night, March 1, in Barangay Sagasa, Bago City, Negros Occidental. Local authorities have since launched a hot pursuit operation against the suspect.
According to the Bago City Police Station, the fatal confrontation occurred around 9 p.m. at Purok Mainuswagon following a heated argument between the victim known by the alias “Kino” and the 25-year-old laborer alias “Junior.”
Initial investigation revealed that the dispute reportedly stemmed from a missing cauldron. The suspect allegedly claimed to have seen the victim using it while drinking with friends earlier that afternoon.
Witnesses told investigators that the situation escalated when the victim reportedly returned to the scene carrying a bolo and acting aggressively. The suspect subsequently returned armed with a cane cutter and hacked the victim on the lower left portion of his mouth, causing him to collapse. The suspect fled the area immediately after the attack.
The Bago City Rescue Team rushed the victim to a local hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Responding officers from the Bago City Police Station recovered a bolo at the crime scene. As of press time, authorities were coordinating with a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit for a continued manhunt against the suspect, who remained at large./PN
