Family of 5 massacred in Laguna, one survives

CAMP PACIANO RIZAL, Philippines — A family of five, including a two-month-old baby, was hacked to death in San Pablo City in Laguna in a massacre that left an eight-year-old girl as the sole survivor.

Victims Bay Rendon Jr., 40, his wife Maricel, 24, and their two-month daughter, Marijoy died instantly, while their two children, Jay-em,7, and Jomari, 5, died in the hospital Thursday morning.

Their eight-year old daughter, Margie, survived the attack and was able to identify the suspect.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police director, in a text message, said the massacre happened around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday while the family was asleep inside their bamboo hut in the remote village of Sta. Filomena.

The suspect was the victims’ neighbor, identified as Ernie Tambuong, 19, a farmer.

“The victims sustained multiple hack wounds from a scythe, mostly in the arms and head. The baby was hacked on her forehead,” said city police chief Supt. Ferdinand de Castro in a phone interview.

De Castro said Margie sustained a hack wound in her left chest but was able to escape and seek help from their relatives in the village.

Police arrested Tambuong in his home at around 1 a.m. Thursday.

De Castro said the suspect was drunk when he carried out the massacre.

In his statement to the police, Tambuong said he went after Rendon, also a farmer, who accused him of hacking the victims’ horses and threatened to hurt him.