2 old farmers hack each other

Two farmers were wounded after they hacked each other yesterday morning over a land conflict in sitio Lupa, barangay Sapangdaku.

The two, who were brought to separate hospitals, were identified as 96-year-old Roman Gacayan, a widower, and his 83-year-old neighbor Juanito Sabas.

A certain Juanito Sacamay told police investigators that he saw Sabas hack Gacayan while he passed through Gacayan's lot, prompting him to throw stones at Sabas.

Gacayan was brought to Cebu Doctor's Hospital due to several wounds in his abdomen and other parts of his body.

Sabas, who was rushed to the Visayas Community Hospital, told Homicide Section investigator SPO1 Rey Cuyos that he was cutting bamboo near Gacayan's farm when Gacayan arrived and, without warning, started hacking him.

Sabas suffered several wounds in different parts of his body with his left ankle was nearly cut off. He claimed that he only defended himself by hacking Gacayan with the bladed tool he used in cutting bamboo.

Police learned that the incident between the two stemmed from an old land dispute.

Responding elements from Mobile Patrol Group led by PO2 Elver Mabatid however said they could not yet determine who owned the bolo and kitchen knife they recovered from the crime scene. - Edwin Ian Melecio