GOSSIP allegedly triggered a construction worker to go berserk and hack to death two persons, including his sister-in-law, and hurt another in Barangay Mahalang in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Monday, October 25, 2021.
Killed were Merly Lahay-lahay, 48, and Carlos Era, 70, both residents of Sitio Mambalayong, Barangay Mahalang, said Himamayalan City Police Station deputy chief Arturo Margallo.
Era's daughter, Egie, 38, survived the attack.
Investigation showed that the suspect Danny Lahay-lahay, 50, of Barangay Tabugon in Kabankalan City, arrived at the victims' house around 10 a.m. and suddenly hacked Egie.
It added that Merly and her father, Carlos, tried to rescue Egie but the suspect also hacked them.
Egie and Carlos were rushed to the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City but the latter passed away while being treated.
Merly, on the other hand, succumbed to severe hack wounds on her body upon arrival at the Himamaylan City Health Office.
Margallo said the suspect got mad with Merly, who is his sister in-law, believing that she is responsible for spreading gossip about him having an illicit affair with another woman.
He added that the suspect fled after committing the crime.
As of Wednesday, October 27, authorities were still conducting a manhunt operation against the suspect who failed to return home since the crime happened, the police official said.
In Kabankalan City, meanwhile, the police already ruled out foul play behind the death of a man, whose decomposing body was found inside his house in Purok Waling-waling, Barangay Camugao on Monday, October 25.
The neighbors of Joel Abano, 53, were complaining of foul odor emanating from his house, prompting them to seek police help.
When the police searched Abano's house, they saw his decomposing body.
There were no signs of forcible entrance or struggle inside the house of Abano, who has been living alone. He was reportedly suffering from an ailment.