Man beheads neighbor after quarrel over cow

CEBU, Philippines - A woman was hacked dead then beheaded by a neighbor while she was pasturing her cow in barangay Lagundi, Oslob town, yesterday morning around 7:30 a.m.

Police identified the fatality as Joan Aberion Cabilte, 23, a resident of the said place while the suspect was Emelio Dalumpenis, alias “Mel”, 45, a farmer and neighbor of the victim.

Police said they received a call from a certain Delia Caldino informing them that there was a hacking incident. After receiving the said report, PO2 Alberto Yray and PO1 Rey Angelo Agustin immediately went to the said place onboard their jeep.

The two later arrested Dalumpenis after they reported coming across him while he was walking along the road, having in his possession the bolo believed to have been used in the crime.

Initial investigation revealed that around 6:30 a.m. the victim was pasturing her cow in a lot owned by the suspect when the suspect came and confronted her.

The suspect was allegedly upset after the victim’s cow ate the young coconut trees he was growing.

A heated argument followed and Dalumpenis allegedly lost his temper and hacked the victim several times, killing her.

Still not content, the suspect allegedly beheaded the victim. The head was later found down a cliff around 65 meters away from the victim’s body.

The relatives of the victim have asked the police to do an autopsy on the body.

While police confirmed there was bad blood between the victim’s father and the suspect, they are also looking into other possible motives behind the crime. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc/BRP (THE FREEMAN)