Bantay Dagat member hacked

A MEMBER of the Bantay Dagat in San Remigio town, northern Cebu, was critically wounded after he was hacked by two men last Friday afternoon.

Rene Marianito Arrela, 45, was rushed to the town’s hospital with hack wounds in the hands and in the head.

His alleged attackers, Ladislao Sipalay and Rolando Regala, were arrested after the incident.

Police said Arrela was in his post at Tañon Straight Protective Seascape sanctuary when Sipalay and Regala, who were both drunk, arrived.

Police said the two asked Arrela to show documents to prove that he was a legitimate Bantay Dagat member.

Arrela took the documents from a nearby shanty.

While showing the documents, one of the suspects hacked Arrela.

Arrela retaliated by hitting his attacker with a steel pipe but the other suspect hit him in the head with a piece of wood.

Other Bantay Dagat members arrived and subdued Sipalay. Regala was able to run but was eventually cornered./CORRESPONDENT GABRIEL C. BONJOC