Village secretary slain inside barangay hall in Samar

CEBU CITY––A village secretary died after being repeatedly stabbed inside the barangay hall of Binanalan, Sta. Rita town, Samar at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17.

Suzette Palicte, 49, was working even on a Sunday when the suspect barged into the barangay hall, said Major Neil Fernando Cerdeña, chief of the Sta. Rita Police Office.

Their investigation showed that a short confrontation transpired between Palicte and the suspect, after which the latter pulled out a bladed weapon, commonly called “pisaw,” and stabbed her in different parts of her body.

The suspect, Jonelo Besco, fled through the back of the barangay hall into the rice paddies and was cornered in one house by some residents.

Cerdeña said the residents were not able to arrest Besco because he was armed.

“The suspect fired a single shot from an improvised gun, prompting the residents to wait until the policemen arrived in the area,” Cerdeña said.

When the police arrived, Besco surrendered to them.

Recovered from the suspect were a bladed weapon used in stabbing the victim and two improvised homemade shotguns.

The police are readying charges of murder and illegal possession of firearms against Besco, who was detained at the Sta. Rita Municipal Police Station.

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