Brothers don't regret beheading neighbor

CEBU, Philippines - The two brothers who beheaded their neighbor in Brgy Capio-an, Argao feel no remorse on what they did last Friday, saying they might have suffered the same fate if they didn't make the first move.

"Wala'y pagmahay oy. Hambugero kaayo siya, unhan unta mi ato niya," Emilio Solis, 42, said. He said Carlito Nazara, 43, threatened to kill them. (We did not regret killing him. He would have done it to us first.)

Apart from the threat, Antonio Solis, Jr., 48, the one who beheaded Nazara, told The FREEMAN that the threat they received, coupled with fatigue from the day's work, pushed them to commit the crime.

"Dala na sa among kahadlok na unhan niya ug sa kakapoy na sad," he said.

The siblings just got home from the farm at 4 p.m. last Friday when they saw Naraza having a drinking session with their neighbors and relatives, one of whom was celebrating his birthday.

They joined the group after they were invited. During the drinking session, Naraza, already drunk, allegedly said there's no point for the Solis family to continue on living.

The Solis brothers ignored Naraza and later went home. They were resting and talking when they decided to kill the victim.

Emilio brought a scythe while Antonio brought a knife locally known as "lagaraw" and barged in the victim's house not far away.

"Nangutana siya unsa'y among tuyo. Ingon ko, hambugero kaayo ka ug ako siya gitigbas," Emilio said. (He asked us what we were there for. I told him he was arrogant and then I hacked him.)

Naraza's live-in-partner, Selvia Saragena, 43, who was lying on the bed, rushed to rescue the victim but Antonio also hacked her neck. Antonio said, though, that he did not hack Saragena intentionally. Saragena is now safe after she was treated at the San Isidro Kintanar District Hospital in Argao.

Nazara was able to jump out the window and was chased by the assailants to the house of the barangay captain, Romulo Camajalan, who was in Carcar City at that time.

Mary Rose Camajalan, 14, the barangay captain's daughter, said she was heading to attend the Flores De Mayo when she saw the victim, already bloodied, entered their house. She then saw the suspects chasing the victim.

At the back of their house, the suspects caught the victim where Emilio hacked him again on the stomach and Antonio finally slashed his head. The head rolled some ten meters away.

Mary Rose said the suspects walked away and even boasting to their neighbors that they already killed the victim. The brothers claimed that their victim beheaded someone before.

The Solis brothers later surrendered to a barangay councilor who turned them over to the police.

The mother of Naraza's live-in partner describes the victim as a joker especially when he is drunk, but stressed he did not hurt anyone.

"Mangomedya ra na siya, muingon "I love you", wa pa diay ka mamatay? Komedya ra gud, ilang gidibdib," Florencia Saragena said, describing the Solis brothers as ill-tempered. (He was fond of making jokes, asking people why are they still alive. The Solis brothers took it seriously.)

Naraza's elder sister, on the other hand, also grieves because she lost a kind brother.

"Buotan man na siya. Kadtong magsuona sab, dili kadawat ug komedya," Epifania Naraza Velbar said. (He was kind. Those brothers do not take jokes lightly.)  (FREEMAN)