3 dead as drinking spree turns bloody in Antique
A simple drinking spree among friends in Antique province turned bloody Thursday night that resulted to the death of three persons and the wounding of another.
Antique provincial director, Senior Superintendent Ronilo Quebrar identified the fatalities as Ismael Aretaño, Rodolfo Besta and Jovito Magbato, all residents of Barangay Lugta, an interior village of Lauaan town in Antique.
Based on the spot report submitted to him by the Lauaan police, Quebrar told The News Today during the phone interview last week that Magbato stabbed Aretaño and Besta at the height of an altercation. The victims had stab wounds in their chest caused by a knife.
Magbato, in turn, was hacked dead by Ricardo Aretaño, who is now undergoing treatment at the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose, Antique for the wounds he incurred. Magbato, on the other hand, had hack wounds in the hand, face and back.
"Probably, they (Aretaño, Besta and Magbato) had an argument as they were already drunk that led to the stabbing," Quebrar said. The incident happened at around 8 p.m.
The case is considered solved, as the victims and the suspects are identified, although the police have yet to file the appropriate case, Quebrar said. The police already have witnesses to the crime.
At present, the Lauaan police is waiting for the decision of the families of the parties involved on whether or not the latter are going to press charges.
However, Quebrar said that he has ordered Lauaan police to determine the causes that led to the killing. "An investigation is still underway."
At the same time, he ordered for more patrols and to intensify their campaign against bladed weapons so that there will be no repetition of such incidents.