2 dead, 1 hurt as Palawan land dispute among brothers turns bloody

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—Two farmers were killed and another was wounded when a land dispute escalated into violence in the town of Taytay, Palawan province early on Monday (April 26).

The bloodshed took place at the village of Poblacion around 7 a.m. and was rooted in a land dispute between two families, according to Capt. Regie Eslava, Taytay police chief.

According to Eslava, killed were Estanislao Gadiano, 60, and Placido Gadiano, 64 while wounded was Nelson Gadiano, 57, who had been brought to a hospital in Puerto Princesa.

The three are brothers.

“Their land dispute has been going on for a while now. Early this morning, while the victims were plowing and clearing the field, the two suspects suddenly came and hacked them,” said Eslava.

The suspects—Jose Española, 63, and his son Jhuben Española, 30—fled the crime scene but later surrendered to Taytay town Mayor Christian Rodriguez, who turned them over to police. They allegedly hacked their brothers.

Police have yet to conclude the investigation as they prepare to file murder charges against the suspects, who are in jail pending inquest.

TSB