Sour chess game loser kills grandpa

For losing a friendly chess game, a sour loser hammered to death his opponent, a 77-year-old grandfather, and seriously wounded the latter’s wife in Marikina City Wednesday night.

But the police said the suspect, Ronaldo Peltucean, 23, a welder from Valenzuela City, actually planned to rob his victims. He was collared by the victims’ neighbors, whose attention were caught by shouts for help from the wounded Rosita Robles.

Mrs. Robles passed out while shouting for help and crawling out of their house at 5 Kaimito St., Barangay Concepcion Uno. She was listed in critical condition yesterday at the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center. Her husband, Francisco, sustained multiple wounds in the head.

Police prober PO1 Glen Aculano said Peltucean dropped by Robles’ house late Wednesday afternoon to play a friendly chess game. But Peltucean failed to win a single game against the aging Francisco, said Aculano.

Peltucean excused himself and proceeded to the kitchen allegedly to drink a glass of water at about 7:10 p.m. When he got back, Peltucean was holding a hammer and without a word started attacking Robles. Rosita rushed to help her husband but she, too, was clobbered by Peltucean.

Thinking that the two elders were already dead, Peltucean proceeded to the second floor of the house apparently to rob his victims.

But the bloodied Mrs. Robles crawled her way out of the house and shouted for help, attracting their neighbors’ attention.

The Robles’ room on the second floor was in shambles when responding neighbors cornered Peltucean, who gave himself up peacefully.

Peltucean admitted the crime. But he refused to say what drove him to kill Robles and attack his wife. The suspect is presently detained at the Marikina City police detention center. He will be charged with homicide and frustrated homicide before the city prosecutor’s office today. – Non Alquitran