Tricycle driver, who killed couple over jokes, charged

CEBU, Philippines - The police have filed criminal complaint for double murder against a tricycle driver who killed a couple in Toledo City last week after he did not like the jokes thrown at him by one of the victims.

Senior Police Officer 4 Gil Lastimosa said the complaint was filed before the Toledo City Prosecutor’s Office against Armando Ortiz, 52, resident of Sitio Cabulihan, Barangay Ilihan of the said city.

Ortiz was earlier arrested for hacking to death Lito Blanco, 27, and his common-law wife Mercidita Mamundo, 37, who was five months pregnant.

Ortiz and Blanco were drinking with two other friends inside Ortiz’s house, a few meters away from Blanco’s residence. While drinking, the two were throwing jokes at each other. Ortiz allegedly got irked by the jokes of Blanco, went to the kitchen and came back with a bolo.

Ortiz then started hacking Blanco from behind until the latter collapsed on the floor. Mamundo, who saw what happened to her live-in partner, ran towards them to pacify but she was hacked instead. — (FREEMAN)