By CESAR JOLITO III

A 56-year-old laborer was killed in a hacking incident at Barangay To-oy in Negros Occidental’s Himamaylan City, with his own brother arrested as the prime suspect late Tuesday night, January 27.

Himamaylan police said the incident occurred at around 8:30 p.m. near Purok Detachment in Sitio Mambato.

Initial investigation revealed that the victim was inside his residence when an argument erupted between him and his live-in partner.

At the height of the dispute, the suspect, identified by police as 50-year-old alias “Roge,” allegedly arrived outside the house while intoxicated, banging on the door and shouting invectives.

Irritated by the disturbance, the victim reportedly went outside carrying a piece of wood to confront his brother.

Police said the suspect then returned to his own house and came back armed with a sugarcane cutter.

A brief altercation ensued, during which the victim struck the suspect with the piece of wood.

The suspect allegedly retaliated by repeatedly hacking the victim, hitting him on the head, neck and other parts of the body.

After the attack, the suspect fled the scene.

The victim was rushed to the Governor Valeriano M. Gatuslao Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

His remains were later brought to a funeral home in Kabankalan City.

A hot pursuit operation was immediately launched, leading to the arrest of the suspect.

Police said the suspect was positively identified by a witness.

The suspect is currently detained at the police station./CJ, WDJ