Fiesta visitor hacked dead in Madridejos

A man who was visiting his relatives during the annual fiesta celebration in sitio Kagwangan, barangay Tarong, Madridejos town was hacked to death yesterday dawn.

Police identified the victim as Eduardo Medallo Caranzo, 36, a resident of barangay Marikaban, Santa Fe town but was a native of the place.

Initial investigation conducted by PO2 Gabriel Viliganio of the Madridejos Police Station said the victim had a heated argument with an unidentified person before the incident.

A certain Porferia Caranzo, a relative of the victim, reportedly told police that she went out of their house about 3: 30 a.m. and saw a man hack the victim. She added that she could not identify the assailant because it was too dark.

The victim, who suffered hack wounds in his shoulder, head and neck, was immediately brought to Bantayan District Hospital in Bantayan town, but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

SPO1 Manolo Jo said they picked up a certain Elisio, a native of Negros Occidental but who is already residing at the place.

He said a witness told them that it was the suspect's friend, Ariel Villacarlos, whom the victim had argued with, but Villacarlos left since the victim was reportedly drunk at that time.

The witness told police that she met the suspect with a bolo hidden in his back and said: "Ayaw lang na ninyo og hilabti kay taga atoa ra man pud siya." But after a few minutes, she heard a noise and when she verified it, she saw the victim lie on the ground.

Jo said the witness could not identify the assailant because it was too dark and that she did not see the actual incident. But Elisio denied involvement in the killing.

Jo said one of the angles they are looking into was the old personal grudge between the victim and the suspect over a basketball game during a tournament in celebration of their fiesta.

He said appropriate charges are now being prepared against the suspect, who is now detained at the town police station. - Norvie S. Misa