Ex-con died from knife’s edge after hacking spree

CEBU, Philippines - An ex-convict died by the same means he injured several people in Barangay Climaco, Toledo City last Thursday.

Felipe “Lic-lic” Catubis, 30, died of multiple stab wounds he sustained from his last victim, Angie Suico, who Catubis also tried to shoot with a gun.

PO2 Carlos Barluado told The Freeman that the series of unfortunate events began when Catubis went to the house of Marlene Sagumi, 19, early dawn that day to look for a certain man.

When Marlene’s relatives, Mary Cris, 22, and Merlinda, 42, went out of the house, Catubis suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Mary Cris and hacked her several times after. He then turned his attention to Merlina and Marlene and hacked them as well.

Merlina sustained hack wounds to her forehead, right hand and left shoulder while Mary Cris sustained a gunshot wound to the back and hack wounds to her elbow and right hand. Marlene, on the other hand, sustained wounds to the left side of her face and right portion of her forehead.

Luckily, Mary Cris’ one-month old child was spared.

Despite their wounds, Merlina and Marlene managed to run to the Barangay Hall to seek for help as Mary Cris ran upstairs and locked the door.

Catubis then reportedly proceeded to the house of his next victim, Marcelo Capacite, 45, whom he also hacked several times.

Catubis then disappeared and resurfaced only at 6 p.m. on the same day when he went to the house of Angie Suico, 31. There, he reportedly asked for a glass of water but after drinking, he reportedly pulled out his gun and shot Suico.

The gun reportedly malfunctioned, which prompted Catubis to use his bolo, but this also gave Suico a chance to get a bolo to defend himself.

The two fought for 30 minutes with Suico getting the better of the fight in the end.

“Didto sa bukid nangayo og tubig sa balay ni Angie, paghuman og inom og tubig na-shock na lang siya kay nibunot og kalit gipusil siya,” Barluado said.

“Nibunot nag sundang naghinunatay na sila’g maayo, medya oras na sila’g away. Nalabay ang sundang, nakabunot og plaminko si Catubis giduslak ang tiil ni Angie, gitukmod niya (Angie) nidagan siya, nakakita siyag sarol, iyang gihapsan,” he added.

Suico, together with his children and live-in partner, then surrendered to barangay officials and turned over Catubis’ bolo, .38 caliber revolver and knife. Suico was held temporarily at the Toledo City Police Station while it is being determined if charges will be filed against him.

Investigation revealed that Catubis has been convicted for frustrated murder before and had a history of nervous breakdown.

“Sauna, maong nakatigbas kay ga-nervous breakdown, tingali nasul-an, nabalikan maong nahitabo na,” Barluado said.

The victims were brought to the Toledo City District Hospital but Mary Chris and Merlina were transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for further treatment. – Bryner L. Diaz/JMO (FREEMAN)