Police hunt down construction worker

POZORRUBIO -- The local police are hunting down a construction worker who stabbed to death two of his neighbors and wounded two others after a failed robbery early morning Wednesday.

Pozorrubio Police Chief Satur Idiong identified the suspect as Den Lucban, 40, a native of Visayas but has a live-in partner here.

Declared dead-on-arrival at the community hospital were 76-year-old Erlinda Abaoag and her six-year-old grandson John Earl Semese.

The victims’ relatives, couple Marcelo and Josephine Abaoag, ran to Erlinda’s house to check on what happened but they too were stabbed by the suspect. The two were rushed to the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City.

Idiong said the crime happened around 3 a.m. Wednesday. Erlinda was roused from sleep when she sensed somebody inside her room.

Investigation revealed that Erlinda shouted for help when saw the suspect opening the drawers and cabinets looking for some valuables, prompting Lucban to stab her and the six-year-old child who was fast asleep.

The suspect ran out of the house and stabbed Josephine. Marcelo tried to rescue his wife, but he too was stabbed by Lucban.

The police chief said the suspect, whose live-in partner is a relative of the victims, was the one who made the cabinet and the window of the old woman’s room.

“Baka noong may tinatrabaho siya sa loob ng kuwarto ng matanda, nasilip o nakita nong suspect na may mga itinatagong pera yong matandang babae kaya pinaplanohang nitong pagnakawan “(Lucban may have noticed some valuables kept inside the cabinet when he was doing some works inside the old woman’s room),” Idiong said.

The police are conducting follow-up investigation to determine the suspect’s whereabouts. (Sunnex)