BACOLOD CITY -- A woman was beheaded while her niece was hacked by their neighbor at Purok Himaya, Barangay Maquiling, Sagay City, Negros Occidental Saturday, Nov. 26.
Killed was Gelly Recodo, 58, of Barangay Dian-ay, Escalante City, while her niece, Bernalyn Abranilla, 33, of Barangay Dian-ay, was wounded.
Lt. Col. Roberto Indiape Jr., Sagay police chief, said that anger triggered 35-year-old Randy Maniego to commit the crime after Recodo allegedly failed to give him his share from the carabao that he took care of for 12 years.
Indiape said the suspect asked for P10,000 from Recodo after the carabao was sold but the latter only gave him P2,000.
Indiape said the suspect got depressed and reportedly planned about killing Recodo, a night before the incident happened.
Indiape said that when he chanced upon Recodo that day, the suspect allegedly attacked her.
The suspect allegedly hacked Abranilla first, hitting her hand.
The victims ran but Recodo stumbled on the ground. The suspect then caught up with her and hacked her head, Indiape said.
The suspect left Recodo’s body at the sugarcane field, while he held the victim’s severed head while walking towards the cemetery, passing some houses along the road, Indiape said.
This alarmed the residents, prompting them to call for assistance.
Indiape said the suspect placed the severed head on a cross at the cemetery, where he was later arrested by the barangay watchmen.
Police recovered a bolo used in the crime.
Indiape said that murder and frustrated murder charges will be filed against Maniego.