Gamecock spat ends in fratricide

A MAN shot and killed his older brother over a misunderstanding involving two dead gamecocks on Sunday afternoon, July 27, 2025, in Sibonga, southern Cebu.

The victim, Rechel Avila Dela Cruz, 36, of Sitio Greenhills, Barangay Lindogon, died minutes after being rushed to the hospital.

Police said Rechel had just returned from the Simala cockpit where he won a match, but his fighting cock also died. He brought home two dead gamecocks meant for cooking and asked his brother Felix, 34, to clean them.

Shortly after, Rechel’s live-in partner told Felix that Rechel wanted one of the gamecocks taken. A few minutes later, Rechel came home drunk and argued with Felix. Their father, Rogelio, 77, tried to break up the commotion. Rechel chased Felix, who returned with a bolo. Rogelio stopped him and told him to go home.

Rechel walked away through nearby bushes but was shot three times by Felix.

Rescuers brought Rechel to Deiparene Community Hospital, where he was declared dead. Police arrested Felix and recovered a .38 revolver with three spent cartridges and a bolo at the scene.

In an interview, the father said Rechel had punched Felix after learning that one of the suspect’s roosters was cooked by mistake. “He has a rule not to eat his own gamecock. He wanted to sell it,” Rogelio said in Cebuano.

He added that Felix had long resented his brother, who often assaulted him when drunk. Rechel was the third of 11 siblings, Felix is the ninth. The family is still deciding whether to press charges. / GPL