2 killed, 4 hurt in public-market brawl between 2 families in Silay City

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—Two were killed and four were hurt in a clash between two families on Wednesday morning at the public market of Silay City, Negros Occidental, police said.

Jimero Dioneo, 50, and his younger brother, Roy, 42, were stabbed to death, after they figured in a rumble with Leo Abellar Sr., 51, and his son Leo Jr., 26, the Silay police chief, Superintendent Rosauro Francisco said.

The father and son sustained gunshot wounds, after being shot allegedly by a certain Bobit Dioneo, at about 5 a.m. Wednesday at the Silay public market, Francisco said.

The Dioneo and Abellar families own meat stalls at the public market of Silay.

Francisco said two other persons identified as Ricardo Dioneo, 52, elder brother of the two fatalities, and Edgar Flores, 47, were also injured.

A day before the bloody confrontation, Abellar Sr. complained to the Silay police that he was punched allegedly by Roy Dioneo.

Francisco said he advised the complainant to secure a medical report, a requirement for the filing of a legal action. The next day, however, Roy Dioneo, who was armed with a baseball bat, went to the meat stall of the Abellar family, and allegedly harassed them.

This triggered a fight among members of the Dioneo and Abellar families, which led to the stabbing and shooting.

A certain Bobit Dioneo, a nephew of the two fatalities, who was reportedly armed with a .45-cal. pistol, allegedly shot Abellar and his son, who were hit in different parts of their bodies. A stray bullet also hit Flores, a meat vendor, in the right arm, Francisco said.

Abellar and his son were being treated at a private hospital in Bacolod City, while brothers Jimero and Roy Dioneo, died from stab wounds.

On the other hand, Ricardo Dioneo and Flores were confined at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.

Policemen who responded to the incident at the Silay public market recovered seven empty shells of the .45-cal. pistol, a baseball with metal spikes and two butcher’s knife at the crime scene.

Francisco said Bobit Dioneo was nowhere to be found as of Wednesday. He, however, said they would file frustrated homicide charges against him for the injuries of the two Abellars and Flores.

On the other hand, homicide charges would be filed against Abellar and his son for the deaths of the Dioneo brothers, he added.