Man hacks neighbor dead

CEBU, Philippines - A man, believed to be not in stable state of mind, hacked to death his neighbor in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Calamba shortly before midnight yesterday.

Rowel Diaz Maraviles, 32, a jobless resident of Lopez St. of the same barangay died of hacked wounds on his head, stomach and right arm.

Homicide police said the victim was inside his house at 11 p.m. when the suspect, Michael Jamito, 23, came and knocked on their front door.

But when Maraviles opened the door, the suspect suddenly hacked him using an 18-inch bolo for unknown reason.

The victim was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center but he was declared dead on arrival.

Barangay councilman Eldy Ygonia and four barangay tanods arrested the suspect who is now detained at the Cebu City Police Office stockade.

PO2 Jodan Batucan of the Homicide Section said that according to the family of the suspect, the latter is mentally unstable.

“Kuwang-kuwang daw na, mo-action na og ka-buang ba. Mura siya’g naay phobia kay sige siga iyang mata pag-interview namo. Ingon ang inahan na padung buang na lagi kuno,” Batucan said.

Asked by the police why he committed the crime, the suspect said the victim was a neighborhood toughie.

Batucan said a possible charge for murder will be filed against the suspect today. —(FREEMAN)