Drug addict goes on hacking sprees; 4 hurt

MANILA, Philippines - An alleged drug addict was shot dead by police officers yesterday for going on two hacking sprees in as many days, leaving four wounded.

Jesus Aquino, 39, was cornered by members of Caloocan City’s special reaction unit less than an hour after he attacked his daughter Leslie Mae, 20, and her partner Elmarch Malihan, 21, with a bolo in front of their house in Libis Talisay Dulo, Barangay 12 shortly before 3 a.m., said Senior Superintendent Bartolome Bustamante, city police chief.

Leslie suffered several hack wounds in the body while Malihan, who tried to stop Aquino from hurting her, sustained lacerations on the head and arm.

On Monday, Aquino reportedly hacked Maria Christina Llenaresas, 29, and Joshua Dapiton, 20, as they were passing in front of his house at around 11:30 a.m.

Aquino escaped after the first incident while Llenaresas and Dapiton were rushed to the Tondo General Hospital for treatment.

Police officers failed to arrest Aquino after the first incident.

Police Officer 1 Fulgencio Escobar said the suspect was holding the bolo when he saw Aquino in an alley yesterday.

Escobar asked Aquino to surrender, but the suspect reportedly attacked and wounded him in the arm. He said he was forced to pull out his gun and shoot the suspect, killing him.

Aquino’s relatives told probers that he had been using shabu and had not slept for three days.

Bustamante said the suspect had just been released from the Caloocan City Jail, where he served time.