Farmer shot dead by brother-in-law over drunkenness

A police officer checks a portion of a sugarcane field in Barangay Sag-ang, La Castellana, Negros Occidental where the decomposing body of a man wrapped in cement sacks and covered with sand was found Monday. (Photo courtesy of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office)

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are initially looking at a misunderstanding and drunkenness as motives for a farmer’s death at Purok Paghidaet 2, Barangay Tampalon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental yesterday.

The victim was identified as Glenn Panganiban, 41, of the said village.

Police Captain Thurslie Castillo, deputy chief of Kabankalan City Police Station, said Panganiban and his brother-in-law Glenn Sedayon, 40, were drinking liquor when the latter allegedly provoked the victim.

A heated argument ensued between them which later led to the shooting incident.

Sedayon drew a gun and allegedly shot the victim several times in his leg, according to the police.

The victim was taken to a hospital but was declared dead.

Castillo said that Sedayon is still at large.

Meanwhile, in La Castellana town, the decomposing body of 50-year-old Jopoeny Morata was found in a sugarcane field at Hacienda Cinchita, Barangay Sag-ang last Monday.

According to the police, a sugarcane worker discovered the lifeless body of the victim wrapped in cement sacks and covered with sand.

Based on police investigation, the victim went home drunk and went berserk on the night of June 23, according to his live-in partner.

The victim’s two stepsons pacified him but they figured in a heated argument.

The victim then left their house and later returned. But another argument ensued between him and his stepsons.

After the second argument, the victim reportedly disappeared, and was found dead three days later, police said.

Police have already two “persons of interest” in the incident.