By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least one person was killed, while another two were wounded during a scuffle yesterday morning in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

Police identified the fatality as 37-year-old Winnie Sarona, a resident of Bago City; while the wounded were identified as 19-year-old John Paul Balena and a 15-year-old, whose identity police have refused to divulge.

Based on initial investigations by La Carlota City police, around 2:00 a.m., during the highlights of the city’s Pasalamat Festival, the victims were heading to their fruit stand when they noticed the four unidentified suspects standing in the area.

Sarona initially said “Good Morning” to the individuals, but the suspects responded violently and a scuffle erupted, resulting in Sarona being slashed in the neck by the suspects.

The suspects also reportedly stabbed Balena and the 15-year-old victim with a broken bottle.

The victims were rushed to the city’s district hospital, where Sarona was later declared dead on arrival by hospital staff.

Police are presently investigating the identities of the suspects and are conducting a manhunt./DGB, WDJ