By Jennifer P. Rendon
A barangay tanod (village watchman) did not survive a knife attack evening of Nov 28, 2022 in Lambunao, Iloilo.
Police identified the victim as Joseph Palermo, 39, a resident of Barangay Simsiman, Lambunao.
The suspect, Vincent Lego, 42, of Barangay Bontoc, Lambunao, remains at large as of this writing.
Corporal Risan Larroza, Lambunao police investigator, said Palermo, who worked as a habal-habal driver, ferried a passenger to the town proper and later bought something for his three children when the incident happened.
As he was navigating Poong, a village adjacent to Simsiman, around 9:20 p.m. Monday, the suspect flagged him down.
Witness Randy Luceño said Palermo stopped and the two had a talk.
They didn’t appear to argue but Luceño claimed he was surprised when the suspect, who was reportedly drunk, suddenly attacked the victim.
He initially thought that Lego punched Palermo causing the latter to fall to the pavement.
Luceño got out of his house in a bid to pacify the fight.
Palermo was already running in Luceño’s direction and was holding on to his wounds.
Luceño later learned that Lego stabbed the victim in the chest and back.
Palermo was rushed to Dr. Ricardo L. Ladrido District Hospital in Lambunao town but was declared dead on arrival.
Larroza said it wasn’t clear what triggered Lego to attack the victim.
According to village officials in Bontoc, Lego was also involved in another stabbing incident in Oton, Iloilo.
