By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A woman was beheaded in a dispute over money at Barangay Maquiling’s Purok Himaya in Negros Occidental’s Sagay City, on Saturday morning, November 26.

Suspect Randy Maniego, 35 years old, was arrested after he beheaded Gelly Recodo, 58 years old and a resident of Barangay Dian-ay’s Sitio Pisong in Escalante City, and wounded Bernalyn Abranilla, a resident of the said place.

Sagay City police chief, Lt. Colonel Roberto Indiape, Jr. said Recodo and Abranilla were walking to the market when they were chanced upon by Maniego.

The suspect demanded his share amounting to P10,000 for his effort in taking care of Recodo’s carabao for almost 12 years.

However, the victim only gave him P3,000, which angered Maniego.

The suspect then drew his bolo and chased the two victims to a sugarcane plantation, which led to Recodo’s beheading.

Abranilla was hit, but she was able to run away.

The suspect grabbed the victim’s head and took it to the cemetery, approximately three kilometers away from the crime scene.

Several terrified residents were able to witness Maniego carrying Recodo’s head along the way, prompting them to call the village officials for his arrest.

In a radio interview, Maniego is not remorseful of his actions, that he was seeking vengeance and claiming that Recodo was selfish for not giving him his share.

He also said that since he has already killed Recodo, they are now fair.

He is currently detained at the police station, and could face murder charges./DGB, WDJ