Municipal police authorities in Taytay, northern Palawan, have launched a manhunt operation to arrest a farmer who is suspected of killing a man in Barangay Libertad last weekend.
In a spot report sent to Palawan News on Tuesday, Palawan Provincial Police Office (PPPO) spokesperson Police Chief Inspector Ric Ramos said their police personnel in the town is now tracking down suspect Johnbert Legane Roque, 25, a resident of the same barangay.
Roque is wanted for the hacking to death of Ronel Gonzaga Mogar, 29, around 9 p.m. on February 3.
The incident happened following a drinking spree among the suspect, Mogar, and a certain James Macapobre.
They were drinking at the house of the suspect when Mogar asked permission to go home.
Without any reason, Roque got his bolo and chased after Mogar, hacking him multiple times and cutting off his left hand.
“The victim asked permission from the suspect to go home after they consumed a bottle of liquor. The suspect then chased them (Mogar and Macapobre) and without apparent reason hacked the victim several times using a bolo causing the victim’s hand to be cut-off,” the spot report noted.
Macapobre attempted to stop Roque, but the suspect also tried to attack him.
Macapobre then sought help from nearby residents.
The barangay security personnel (tanod) who responded to the incident rushed the victim to the Northern Palawan Provincial Hospital (NPPH) but he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician, Dr. Leonor E. Misa.
“[The] suspect is at large and the weapon used [in the murder] was unrecovered,” the report stated.
