Alleged envious fisherman cuts neck of Pinamungajan tanod

CEBU, Philippines - Bitter at some other fishermen’s good catch, a man in Pinamungajan allegedly moved from cutting fishnets to slitting a neighbor’s throat to get even.

Ricardo Canales, 60, got incriminated in the death of a barangay tanod whose body was found sprawled on the seashore of Manguto in Pinamungajan town yesterday morning after he allegedly slashed the neck of the victim with a bolo.

The victim was identified as 29-year-old Hermenigildo Laug-laug.

SPO2 Peter Guanzo, investigator of the Pinamungajan Police Station, narrated that at quarter to 11 a.m. yesterday, Laug-laug was taking breakfast at the seashore when Canales, who arrived after setting out to sea for fishing, approached him, grabbed his head, then pulled his hair and began slashing his neck with the use of a bolo.

According to Guanzo, the victim was able to run some six meters away in a bid to escape from the raging Canales, but the latter gave a chase till Laug-laug fell on the ground.

Canales again struck the victim on his neck till he laid there lifeless.

Guanzo added that the suspect has repeatedly threatened Laug-laug and the rest of the fishermen in the area.

“Dugay naman daw ni sige’g bahad ang suspek sa biktima ug ubang mananagat. Ingon siya nga naa daw siya'y palutawon sa dagat. Nagselos man daw ni siya kay matag panagat niya tuparan man siya sa biktima,” Guanzo said.

Canales voluntarily surrendered to the Pinamungajan Police. However, he failed to turn over the weapon he used in carrying out the crime.

It was learned from Manguto barangay captain Julius Alpas that the suspect has been facing many complaints in their barangay because of his resentful attitude. He even said that Canales harbors ill feelings against fishers blessed with a good catch. Being in a huff about other people’s good fortune, Canales came to the point of cutting mesh nets to get even, Alpas said.

A murder case will be filed against Canales. – Gabriel C. Bonjoc/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)