Man hacks co-worker after arguing over vaccine

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A man was wounded after he was hacked by his co-worker following a misunderstanding on vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at Hacienda Rongo, Barangay Lalagsan, La Castellana, Negros Occidental last Wednesday.

Police identified the victim as Salvador Ortega, 49, of Barangay Robles.

Captain Rhojn Darell Nigos, town police chief, said the argument between Ortega and the suspect identified as 56-year-old Dionesio Francisco happened after the victim mentioned to his co-workers that they should avail of the vaccine or else they cannot work and lose their salaries.

Nigos said Francisco then asked Ortega if he was already vaccinated and told him that the vaccine he got might be fake.

Ortega sarcastically shot back “Ulo mo,” which irked Francisco prompting him to allegedly punch the former and hack him with a bolo, Nigos said.

The victim suffered a lone hack wound in the back part of his neck and was taken to a hospital.

Nigos said Francisco was later arrested at his residence and police recovered from him the weapon he used in the incident.

Nigos said the suspect was released from police custody after the lapse of his 36-hour reglementary detention.