By Felipe V Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Police said bullying might be the reason for the killing of two strangers and wounding of another in a hacking episode last September 29, 2023, at Barangay Lapaz, Jamindan Capiz.
Lt. Joebert delos Reyes, officer-in-charge of Jamindan Municipal Police Station, identified the victims as Archie Georlin, 21, and Dindo Georlin, 31, both residents of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, and Rodel Catalan, 24, of Masbate but temporarily residing in said barangay.
Dindo and Catalan died at the hospital while Archie was wounded.
Investigation by Jamindan Municipal Police Station indicated that the victims were sleeping around 12:50 am Friday when the suspect identified as John Villanueva, 22, also of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental entered the quarters of the victims and hacked them.
Delos Reyes said that the two fatalities also suffered gunshot wounds on their back.
An empty ammunition shell of still undetermined caliber was recovered at the crime scene.
The police believe that the suspect was not alone in carrying out the crime.
Prior to the incident, Villanueva allegedly got irked as he was always bullied by the victims while working on the farm.
Barangay kagawad Ronalyn Llait of Lapaz informed the police about the hacking incident.
Archie Georlin managed to escape and asked for assistance from the neighbors.
Dindo Georlin and Rodel Catalan were taken to Mambusao District Hospital but they were declared dead on arrival by the attending doctor.
Villanueva was arrested in a police-launched manhunt operation.
Double murder and frustrated murder will be filed today, October 2, against the suspect who is presently in the custody of the Jamindan Municipal Police Station.
