By CESAR JOLITO III

A 54-year-old laborer was stabbed dead at Barangay Sagasa in Negros Occidental’s Bago City on Sunday night, March 1, prompting police to launch a hot pursuit operation against the suspect.

Police reports said a confrontation between the victim and a 25-year-old laborer known by the alias “Junior,” who lives in Purok Mainuswagon, stemmed from a missing cauldron.

An investigation indicated that the victim allegedly saw the suspect with his cauldron while the latter was drinking with friends earlier that afternoon.

Witnesses told investigators that the argument escalated when the victim reportedly returned carrying a bolo and acted aggressively.

The suspect later came back armed with a cane cutter and hacked the victim on the left lower portion of the mouth, causing him to collapse on the road.

The young laborer fled immediately after the attack.

The victim was rushed by the Bago City Rescue Team to a local hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Police recovered a bolo at the scene.

Authorities have coordinated with SWAT units for the continued manhunt.

Charges will be filed once the suspect is apprehended./CJ, WDJ