BUGUIAS, Benguet September 19 – Two farmers and a student were injured after they were repeatedly hacked by their fellow farmer while they were harvesting cabbages and potatoes in a plantation site at sitio Pan-ayaoan, Loo, here recently
Superintendent Cherry Fajardo, public information officer of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera, identified the victims as Perfecto Bela-o Cabinta, 55, married, farmer; Francis Pecley Pong-et, 61, married, farmer; and Juniel Pecley Pong-et, , single, student, and all residents of Tin-apan, Bangao, Buguias, Benguet.
Initial police investigation showed the victims, together with the suspect, who was identified as Randy Gaona Mondala, 41, single, farmer, native of Binmunton, Mallig, Isabela, were reportedly harvesting vegetables in a plantation site when the latte, who was armed with a bolo, suddenly attacked Cabinta for still unknown reasons and hacked him several times.
Francis and Jonel tried to come to Cabinta’s rescue but they were also repeatedly hacked on the different parts of their bodies by the wayward suspect.
The victims were immediately rushed to the Lutheran District Hospital in nearby Abatan for medical treatment but Cabinta and Jonel Pong-et were discharged while Francis was confined in the same hospital.
The suspect was subsequently arrested by concerned citizens and responding police operatives and is now detained at the Buguias Municipal Jail awaiting the filing of multiple frustrated homicide charges against him before the provincial prosecutor’s office.