SK councilor charged in fatal stoning of relative

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Police filed a homicide charge Thursday against a 22-year-old Sangguniang Kabataan councilor who allegedly fatally struck his 64-year-old relative with a stone in Barangay Ilaya, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.

Police identified the victim only as alias Rody and the suspect as alias Mike.

The victim and the suspect had been drinking with several neighbors near Mike’s residence before midnight Tuesday.

Police said the suspect went home after the drinking session.

The victim allegedly tried to force his way into the house and repeatedly threw stones at the residence after he was ignored.

Lt. Jessica Malata, deputy chief of the Calatrava Municipal Police Station, said the suspect went outside to pacify the victim because he feared the noise would disturb his grandmother.

The confrontation escalated into a fistfight, police said.

The suspect allegedly lost his temper, picked up a stone and struck the victim on the head.

Responding barangay peacekeepers restrained the suspect, Malata said.

The barangay captain turned him over to police early Wednesday.

Malata said intoxication may have triggered the incident because the victim and the suspect had no known previous dispute.

She said the incident was reported late because continuous heavy rain had left the area’s rough and uneven roads muddy and inaccessible to vehicles.

The suspect was charged with homicide and remains under police custody pending further legal proceedings.