April Cuesta ABUYOG, Leyte — A 50-year-old carpenter was killed in a hacking incident in Barangay Odiongan, Abuyog, in the early hours of New Year’s Day, police said.
The victim was identified as alias Mike, aged 50, married and a resident of the barangay. Police said the incident occurred around 12:15 a.m. on January 1, 2026, following a confrontation with a man he had reportedly been in conflict with for years.
The suspect was identified as alias “Loloy,” aged 40, single, a laborer, and also a resident of Barangay Odiongan. Based on police investigation, the two had a long-standing dispute allegedly linked to a love affair that took place while the victim was working in Manila.
Police Major Luis Hatton, chief of the Abuyog Police disclosed that the victim had been drinking in the afternoon of December 31 and went to the suspect’s house looking for him, but the suspect was not present at the time. Shortly after midnight, the victim returned and confronted the suspect, who had just woken up.
Both men were armed with long-bladed weapons during the confrontation.
According to Major Hatton, alias Mike was intoxicated when he was struck multiple times, sustaining fatal injuries, including severe wounds to the neck.’
He was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. The suspect sustained a minor injury to his hand.
Police arrested the suspect shortly after the incident and recovered the bladed weapons used in the crime. He is currently in police custody and will face a charge of murder.
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