Ma, son hacked to death by inmate in Masbate jail; another injured

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NAGA CITY, Philippines–A woman and her teenage son were hacked to death by an inmate while they were inside the Masbate Provincial Jail compound in Barangay (village) Matiporon in Milagros on Sunday afternoon, the police said Monday.

Jail authorities have yet to explain why the inmate was outside of his cell and how he was able to get hold of a machete. It was still not clear why the victims were at the jail compound, according to Senior Superintendent Heriberto Olitoquit, Masbate police chief.

Olitoquit said Tessie Basical, 50, her son Jayson, 15, and a certain Rommel Buhia were attacked by bolo-wielding inmate Rey Esparaguerra, 33, at the compound of the provincial jail at about 3 p.m.

Olitoquit said Tessie and Jayson died on the spot while Buhia was rushed by the jail guard to the Dr. De Castro Hospital in the town proper, where he was now fighting for his life.

Seized from Esparaguerra was a 55-centimeter bolo.

The police official said an investigation was ongoing to determine motive and other circumstances in the attack.

The town proper of Milagros is 22 kilometers west of Masbate City, the provincial capital, while the provincial jail is about 7 km from the town proper of Milagros.