BUTUAN CITY – A religious leader was shot and hacked to death late Wednesday afternoon at Purok 3, Barangay Desamparados, Talacogon town, Agusan del Sur, police reported yesterday.
Based on the report of Talacogon Municipal Police Station, Pastor Danilo A. Petronilo, 52, of the Southern Mindanao Baptist Church, was sitting on a chair beside a store in front of his house at Purok, 3, Barangay Desamparados around 4:51 p.m. when he was shot by neighbor Julito A. Hilarion with an unknown caliber gun.
Not contented, the suspect hacked the victim with a bolo in the arm, knee and body, police said.
The victim was rushed to Talacogon District Hospital in Talacogon town but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police said the suspect fled to nearby mountainous area of Barangay Desamparados right after the incident.
Initial investigation showed that personal grudge was the motive behind the killing.
Chief Supt. Rolando B. Felix Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) director, ordered Talacogon police chief Senior Inspector Gauvin T. Guanzon to arrest the suspect. (Mike U. Crismundo)