By CESAR JOLITO III

A 35-year-old laborer was hospitalized after he was allegedly attacked with a sugarcane bolo by a fellow resident at Barangay Tabu in Negros Occidental’s Ilog town on Tuesday, June 2.

Ilog police said the victim was walking along a road around 10:00 a.m. when the suspect, identified only by 32-year-old “Rusi,” suddenly attacked him allegedly without any apparent provocation.

Police said the suspect repeatedly hacked the victim on the back and head, inflicting multiple wounds.

The injured laborer was immediately rushed to Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital for medical treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.

Police said information gathered indicated that the suspect was allegedly suffering from a mental illness.

However, authorities have yet to determine whether this was a factor in the attack.

A pursuit operation was launched following the incident, but the suspect remains at large as of this writing.

Police continue to track down the suspect and have urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to coordinate with authorities.

The motive behind the attack remains under investigation./CCJ, WDJ