Brothers die, father survives in ambush

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Two brothers died, while their father survived after they were ambushed at a sugarcane plantation at sitio Daga in Barangay Bagacay of San Rafael town in Iloilo.

Inspector Danny Lamera, chief of the San Rafael Police, identified the fatalities as Rolly Napacia, 24, and his younger brother, Rey, 17. The surviving victim was 48-year-old Rolando Napacia.

The two brothers succumbed to wounds on the head, while their father was rushed to the hospital where he remained confined at the ICU due to injuries on the neck and leg.

Police reports said the three were on their way home when waylaid by the assailants at a secluded area in the sitio, which was far from any house.

As this developed, Senior Supt. Gil Lebin, director of the Iloilo Provincial Police, said the police already have suspects in the attack and that land dispute was seen as the motive.

Lebin said the Napacia family had a misunderstanding with another family over tenancy of the land. "We could not find any other motive because the victims were just ordinary farmers. They were just tilling the land of someone else," he added.

According to another information, it was the third attempt on the lives of the victims. - THE FREEMAN