Man“killed” by own brother

CEBU, Philippines - A farmer died after he was allegedly hit by his brother with a bottle and a bamboo pole in Barangay Punod, Pinamungajan, Cebu Thursday evening.

Mariano Siatanan, 46, was found lifeless by his wife in a shanty situated 500 meters away from their house past 11 p.m.

Initial investigation revealed that Bebelyn Siatanan last saw her husband during dinner and got worried when he was not home around 11 p.m.

Bebelyn decided to look for her husband around the neighborhood until she found him lying on the ground with several wounds to his head and other parts of his body.

Police Officer 3 Marciano Suarez Jr., desk officer of Pinamungajan Police Station, said that prior to the incident, the victim and his brother, Juan Siatanan, 48, had a drinking session early in the morning.

Suarez said that the victim’s 15-year-old son saw his father and uncle having a heated argument after their drinking spree, prompting Juan to choke his brother.

“Ana ang bata nagsininghagay daw to sila paghuman nila og inom unya natuok sa iyang tiyo ang iyang amahan pero na-uwang ra sila dayon,” Suarez said.

The police immediately went to the house of Juan in their investigation but he ran and tried to elude arrest.

However, Juan was arrested by barangay tanods of Butong, Pinamungajan, Cebu and was turned over to the police.

Suarez said that the suspect admitted responsibility for the death of his brother by hitting him several times in the head with a bottle of softdrink and a bamboo pole.

The suspect is currently detained at the Pinamungajan detention cell awaiting the filing of appropriate charges against him. — Xenia Maureen Arda, USJ-R MassComm Intern/ATO (FREEMAN)