A FARMER killed his cousin, who is also a farmer, by beheading following an altercation about past grudges while on a drinking spree in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported.

Police Major Shellamie Chang, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the victim as Simplicio Espanio Lendio, 56, who was allegedly beheaded by his cousin, Mario Campaña Lendio, 43.

Chang said the incident happened around 3:05 a.m. Sunday, July 11, in Purok 1, Lintum village, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.

She said prior to the incident, Lendio was having a drinking spree with his other cousin, Federico Gemina Lendio, 43, when the suspect arrived and joined them.

Investigation showed that after they consumed a bottle of wine, the victim and the suspect had a heated argument about their past grudges and engaged in a fist fight after the former challenged the latter to a fight, Chang said.

Chang said further investigation showed the suspect got a scythe at his house nearby and beheaded the victim, who fell unconscious as the suspect hit him with a wooden knuckle during the fist fight.

She said the suspect, who was positively identified by witnesses, was arrested by the responding policemen in a pursuit operation. (SunStar Zamboanga)