Family of three arrested for mauling to death kin

A 59-year-old taxi operator was mauled to death by his own relatives over a petty misunderstanding yesterday morning in Caloocan City.

Gregorio Francisco of 36 Sampaguita street, Baesa, Caloocan City died while being rushed for treatment at the Manila Central University hospital due to stab wounds in different parts of his body.

Suspects Vicente Aguilar, his son Aristotle, and son-in-law Jay Santiago, all of Sampaguita street, Baesa, were immediately arrested by the police with the help of barangay chairman Teotimo Gajudo.

Police prober SPO2 Antonio Paras said that at about 8 a.m. yesterday, the victim confronted Vicente, whose wife Nerissa is his cousin, for allegedly destroying a portion of the just cemented pathwalk leading to Francisco’s residence. Vicente reportedly reasoned out that he did so to allow wastewater coming from their house to flow freely through the canal.

The confrontation, however, turned nasty resulting in a heated argument which led to a fistfight between Aguilar and the victim.

During the brawl, Aguilar’s son and his son-in-law including his wife Nerissa, allegedly joined the fray.

With the use of a knife, a dustpan and other blunt objects, the suspects allegedly mauled Francisco to death.

The victim sustained fatal stab wounds in the chest, abdomen and back portion of his body, Paras said. He was declared dead on arrival at the MCU hospital at about 8:30 a.m. by Dr. Ernesto Gonzales.

Police were set to file yesterday charges against the Aguilar family and Santiago with the Caloocan City Prosecutor’s Office. – Pete Laude