Man ganged up, hacked

CEBU, Philippines - A man who was allegedly mauled first by three men, he reportedly confronted with earlier, was hacked on his forehead shortly before midnight yesterday in sitio Hamtik, on Cebu City’s mountain barangay of Babag II.

John Rey Vasquez, 29, landed in the hospital and is now recuperating after he was beaten black and blue before he was hacked by a certain “Oscar”, “Erneo”, and “Erwin”.

Investigation showed that Vasquez, a resident of the place, was on his way to visit his grandfather whose house is located a few meters away from his residence when he passed by the alleged drunks having a drinking spree.

The suspects allegedly told him, “Dili ra ba ni paagian dinhi (One is not allowed to pass through here),” to which Vasquez retorted, “Di man ni inyo, nganong di man ko paagion? (You don’t own the place neither, so why can’t I pass through?)”

Such caustic reply allegedly prompted one of the suspects to pull out a bolo and then egged on the others to beat up the victim which led to the hacking incident. Vasquez sustained a wound on his forehead. He was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center where he is now confined.

The suspects were arrested through a pursuit operation by elements of the Cebu City Mobile Group and are now detained at the Cebu City Police Office stockade.

Appropriate charges for the said assault will be filed against them before the court today.

On sidelight, the name of the place where the incident occurred happens to be the Sinugbuwano term for “something that impedes or prevents entry or passage” or “the act of opposing, standing in the way of, or holding up something or someone.” — Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)