• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two persons died, while three others were injured in separate stabbing and hacking incidents on August 27 in the towns of San Enrique and Binalbagan, with one of the two suspects accounted for by the police.
The hacking spree of a suspect identified as Raymund Langote, a migratory farm worker from Culasi, Antique, inside a sugarcane plantation barracks at Hacienda Candelaria, Brgy. Baliwagan, San Enrique, led to the death of Gilbert Brinio and injuries of two others identified by the police as Elmer and Ronaldo Langote.
Initial police investigations showed the victims were sleeping inside their barracks when the suspect, who was armed with a cane cutter, hacked Brinio first.
Elmer and Ronaldo, who tried to pacify the attacker, were both also hacked by the suspect, who immediate fled, along with his weapon, after the incident.
Brinio was reported by the police to have been declared dead on arrival at the San Enrique Rural Health Unit, while Elmer was brought to the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City for further treatment.
On the other hand, Ronaldo is now in stable condition, after being treated for his injuries at Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial Hospital in La Carlota City.
Meanwhile, a drinking spree that led to a commotion on Sunday in Brgy. San Vicente, Binalbagan, ended in violence.
Joemarie Getunzo, 42, and his younger brother, Ernesto, 42, were both hacked by the suspects, who immediately fled the scene.
Investigations of the Binalbagan police showed that a commotion took place, involving Joemarie and the five suspects, who ganged up on him.
Ernesto came to the rescue of his brother but was also hacked and stabbed by the suspects, according to the Binalbagan police.
Both victims were brought to the Binalbagan Infirmary for medical treatment, however Joemarie was reported by the police to have been declared dead on arrival at the medical facility, where his brother is also being treated for his injuries.
Pursuit operations conducted by the Binalbagan police led to the arrest of one of the five suspects identified as Alexander dela Peña, who also suffered minor injuries, after his driven motorcycle figured in a crash while fleeing from the authorities.*
