Son defends mother, kills own father in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A 68-year-old farmer was killed by his own son for attacking his wife in a remote village in Gutalac town, Zamboanga del Norte on Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 9, identified the slain farmer as Marcos Ignacio Sr., 68 and his son, Ronnie, 22, both residents of Barangay Pitawie.

Huesca said the victim died on the spot after being attacked by his son with a scythe. The victim sustained slash wounds in the head, shoulder and left arm.

He said that Ronnie and his mother tried to cover up the killing by burying the farmer in their backyard.

However, the village chairman reported the incident to the police authorities.

Huesca said that according to the local police, the drunken Ignacio went berserk and attacked his wife with a bolo. The younger Ignacio tried to pacify the farmer, who vented his ire at his son.

The suspect then went to his own home, took a scythe and attacked his father.

Huesca said that based on records, the farmer had been arrested and detained at the Gutalac municipal jail after killing his eldest son. He was later released after his family refused to file charges.

The younger Ignacio is currently detained at the local police office while charges are being prepared against him.

The police further disclosed that the victim – elder Ignacio – was jailed in 2001 at the Gutalac Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) reportedly for killing his eldest son and few months later was released after his family refused to file charges against him.