Mentally-ill son attacks parents in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — A carpenter is in critical condition after his mentally-ill son struck him with a bamboo pole in Mabini town in Pangasinan province on Tuesday.

Leonido de Guzman, 58, fell unconscious when his son, Louie de Guzman, 28, swang a bamboo pole at his nape at 7:30 p.m. in Barangay (village) De Guzman.

He was taken to a hospital in Dasol town, where he is now being treated. Louie also hit his mother, Arcela Ragudos, 57, with a rock and was treated for a head wound.

PO2 Jeffrey Vidal, Mabini investigator, said Louie had been taking medication after being discharged from a mental hospital in Baguio City. He said Louie also worked as a tricycle driver.

The older De Guzman had arrived home from work and saw Louie whispering that someone was taking “his power away from him,” Vidal said.

Louie got hold of a bamboo pole and without any warning attacked his father. He turned on his mother, when she tried to pacify him.

Vidal said that Louie is now detained at the Mabini police station.