Man loses cell phone, hacks to death 2 neighbors

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan–A man believed to be mentally unstable is facing double murder charges after he hacked and killed his two neighbors on Monday in Agno town in Pangasinan, police said on Wednesday.

Insp. Renato Gacad, Agno police chief, said the cases were filed at the provincial prosecutor’s office in Alaminos City on Tuesday against Andy Naranja, 34, for killing Herminio Cabais, 55, and Laulita Naranja, 63.

Gacad said at about 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Naranja, armed with two bolos, chased Laulita, who ran toward her house in Barangay Gayusan in Agno.

Naranja hacked her, killing her instantly.

As he walked out of Laulita’s house, Naranja saw Cabais lying on a hammock about 30 meters away. Without any provocation, he hacked and killed Cabais, Gacad said.

Gacad said Naranja fled after the attacks but policemen found him three hours later at the shoreline of the village. “We tried to ask him to surrender but he did not listen. We even asked the help of his relatives,” said Gacad.

Naranja was arrested after he jumped into the water.

Gacad said Naranja’s relatives told police he was confined four years ago in a mental health facility in Baguio City and was discharged after a few months.

“He was okay [after his confinement]. There was no problem with him,” Gacad said, adding that Naranja’s behavior changed when he lost his mobile phone during a Christmas party in the village last month.

“His relatives noticed that his behavior changed. He did not eat for three days before the incident and he did not seem to be himself,”
said Gacad.  TVJ