A VIDEOKE session was cut short after a village councilor in the southern town of Dalaguete, Cebu stabbed and injured an attacker, who happened to be a relative, on Friday night, Sept. 16, 2022.
Police identified the suspect as Barangay Nalhub Councilor Miguel Obiedo Belda, 51, of Sitio Alang-alang of the said barangay, and the victim as Mario Agtong Obiedo, 39, a farmer.
According to police, Belda was allegedly attacked by Obiedo while he was singing the song “Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin” by the late singer-songwriter April Boy Regino.
Witnesses told police that Belda was having a videoke session at his relatives’ house, when the victim arrived and tried to attack him with a bolo.
Even though he didn’t start the commotion, Belda ended up in jail after he retaliated and stabbed Obiedo with a kitchen knife he took from a nearby lechon tray.
Obiedo sustained a stab wound on his right arm.
Senior MSgt. Nap Kelly Segarra of the Dalaguete Police Station told SunStar Cebu that Obiedo was already bloodied when they arrived at the scene.
Obiedo, however, had a different version of what happened during the incident.
He told police that he just dropped by his relatives’ house to join a drinking session.
After a while, he left and then returned. He said Belda, who was singing at that time, suddenly stabbed him with a kitchen knife.
Responding policemen arrested Belda at his home.
In an interview with SunStar Cebu, Belda admitted to the crime, saying he only defended himself when the victim tried to attack him with a bolo while they were having a party at the house of his relatives.
Belda said they were having fun singing when Obiedo arrived.
Belda admitted he didn’t welcome Obiedo as they were not on good terms.
After a while, the victim walked away while they continued to sing.
Then all of a sudden, one of their relatives shouted at Belda, “pagbantay, manoy (watch out)!” When he turned around, he saw the victim about to hack his neck with a bolo.
He quickly retreated and took the kitchen knife from the lechon tray and stabbed the victim with it.
Obiedo sustained minor injuries after their relatives pacified him and Beldo.
“Lingaw nako’g kanta sa kang idol April Boy Regino. May gani dili ako nagkupot sa microphone; nakamaniho ko sa pagdepensa! Putol unta akong liog ato,” the councilor said.
(I was having fun singing a song by my idol April Boy Regino. Luckily, I was not holding a microphone; I was able to defend myself. My neck would have been severed by now).
Just because of a kite
Police later learned that the conflict between Belda and Obiedo started with a kite.
Obiedo and his father, who is a relative of the councilor, were fond of flying kites, sometimes until dawn.
Both Obiedo and his father reportedly owned big kites which emitted high-pitch noise.
According to Belda, he decided to confront Obiedo after neighbors complained about the noise the kites were making, especially at night.
“I told them not to fly kites because these are very noisy in the evening and at dawn,” said Belda, adding that the victim took offense at his remarks.
Since then, Obiedo would carry a bolo and would challenge Belda to a fight whenever he got drunk.
Belda will be facing a case of frustrated homicide.