Son stabs pa to death in row over money

A man, described by his mother as the family's breadwinner, stabbed dead his reportedly drunken father during their altercation over financial matters in their house at sitio Menteryong Daan in barangay Pundol, Balamban town Saturday noon.

The 19-year-old Romel Cañedo, who worked as a sea diver, stabbed repeatedly his 45-year-old father Jeremias with an eight-inch long knife. The victim, with five stab wounds in his back and breast, died before reaching the Balamban District Hospital.

Responding policemen, led by PO3 John Jezz Montealto, arrested Romel who readily surrendered with his arms raised, and seized the knife used in the killing.

PO3 Celso Diaz, who was with the arresting team, yesterday told The Freeman that Romel was apparently drunk at the time he got into an argument with his father reportedly about the reduced salary he remitted to the family.

There was also a side story of Romel that his father always beat him up. "Kulatahon man kuno ni siya pirme sa iyang amahan unya gibunalan pa kuno og tubo," said Diaz.

Diaz said friends and neighbors who visited Romel at his detention cell in the town police station have described him as a good son who provides the financial needs of the family.

"Maayong pagkabata man ni siya, unya napungot na tingale to siya mao unya nituyo lang pag-inom para lang makasukol sa iyang amahan mao tong nakabuhat sa krimen," Diaz quoted Romel's friends and neighbors.

Balamban Police chief, C/Insp. Anthony Bagarinao, however said the relatives could not yet decide whether to file charges against Romel, although the police are now preparing the charge sheet against him.

Bagarinao said he tried to convince Romel's mother, or the wife of the victim, to stand as witness against her son, since she was the only one who saw actually the killing, so that Romel would eventually be indicted.

Bagarinao said that the victim confronted and got angry at Romel for slashing the salary remittance from P1000 to only P600 while spending for liquor in treating his friends to a drinking binge. - Norvie S. Misa