A tanod in Barangay Caningay, Candoni died and his two children were seriously injured, when their neighbor hacked them with a long bolo (talibong), Wednesday night.

Inspector Anthony Caña of the Candoni police station said Joebert Lopez, 41, died from hack wounds on his head and neck, when his neighbor suspect Edwin Espares responded to his challenge to fight him.

Espares was still at-large as of press time.

Police investigations showed that Lopez was under the influence of intoxicating liquor when he went to the house of Espares challenging him to come out and fight.

Thinking that Lopez was armed, Espares took a long bolo with him when he came out of his house and struck Lopez hitting him first on the neck, then on the head, Caña said.

Hearing the commotion, Lopez's son Peter, 15, and daughter Pamela, 12, ran out of their house and rushed to defend their father. They, too, were hit when Espares struck his neighbor again with the bolo.

Based on their investigation, Caña said Lopez held a grudge against Espares for gaining the favor of their employer.

Lopez used to have a carabao given by their employer, which the latter took back and gave to Espares when Lopez allegedly neglected his duties in the farm, police investigations said.*NAB

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