Vendor found beheaded; man hacked by neighbor

A pot vendor was found dead headless at a riverbank between the boundary of Balamban and Asturias towns Monday afternoon while a 38-year-old man was hacked to death by his neighbor at barangay Canangkaan, Oslob town Saturday night.

Initial investigation conducted by the Balamban policemen revealed that the fatality was identified as Carmelo Laun Miro, 30, a resident of barangay Suba, Danao City.

Councilman Saturnino Pineda of barangay Kabagdalan, Balamban and tanod chief Salbino Pepito of barangay Tag-amakan, Asturias, reported the discovery of Miro's body to the Balamban Police Station.

Miro's head was later found slightly buried at the riverbank of barangay Tag-amakan. His decomposing body, which bore five stab wounds, was found slightly buried less than 100 meters at the riverbank in sitio Camansilis in barangay Kabagdalan.

Further police investigation said Miro was last seen in barangay Kabagdalan on December 22 having a drink at a store owned by a certain Delia Atamosa.

PO3 Hannibal Larida, duty desk officer of the Balamban Police Station, told The Freeman that they could not determine how many companions Miro had during that time.

However, Larida said they learned that Miro, who became drunk, uttered insulting words to one of his companions that resulted to the incident. "Ang sulti sa mga tawo didto kay hubog ning biktima unya puwerte'ng langasa ug lain og tinabian unya insultador. Unya ang suspek nasuko, napikal ba kaha tingale mao toy hinungdan."

The police investigation is still ongoing to identify the assailant and the motive of the killing.

Meanwhile in Oslob, Abeto Filipinas, a resident of barangay Canangcaan, was allegedly hacked to death by his neighbor, a certain Gregorio Magsukang, 27, using a "pinote."

Initial investigation conducted by PO2 Nelso Saquibal and PO2 Teofisto Vilocura of the Oslob Police Station said the victim and the suspect had a heated argument prior to the incident.

PO2 Alberto Yray said the suspect had surrendered to them and is now detained at Oslob Municipal Jail. - Norvie S. Misa