Farmer killed by neighbor over cow

CEBU, Philippines – A farmer who confronted his neighbor about the latter’s cow, which allegedly kept on eating his farm crops, ended up being killed Friday in Barangay Camaligbato, Danao City.

Victim Santos Castro, 46, suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and a hack wound to the neck while suspect Francisco Landero, 51, fled after killing the victim.

A concerned citizen who found Castro’s body reported the incident to the police.

Police Officer 3 Nelson Pantoja and fellow police personnel of Danao City Police Station responded to the area.

They saw the victim lying on the ground apparently dead while the suspect was no longer around.

Several hours later, the suspect surrendered and turned over to the police the firearm and the bolo he allegedly used in killing the victim.

The suspect told the police that he owns a cow and the victim confronted him at around 5 a.m. on Friday about the animal.

The victim allegedly told the suspect that the latter’s cow kept on eating his corn plants, but the confrontation turned into a heated argument between them.

At the height of the verbal tussle, the suspect shot the victim then hacked his neck that led to his instantaneous death.

Fearing that he might be also killed by his neighbors, the suspect fled away on foot.   He later on decided to surrender to the authorities.

The suspect is now detained at Danao City Police Station and will be charged for murder tomorrow. —/NSA (FREEMAN)