Confrontation over phone ends as baker dies with slit throat

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol - A 28-year-old baker was hacked to death in Loay town, Bohol province on Tuesday.

Police identified the victim as Ruben Miasco, who works at a bakeshop at the Loay Fish Port. He was attacked by his friend, identified as Elmar Cahagas, who was believed to be suffering from a mental condition.

Senior Inspector Geronimo Conarco, chief of Loay Police Station, said that Cahagas accused Miasco of stealing his cellphone.

Witnesses heard of the confrontation. But at past 3 a.m. on Tuesday, they were shocked to discover the dead body of Miasco at the back of a carenderia inside the Loay Fish Port, near the bakery where Miasco worked.

Cahagas used a long knife to slit the throat of Miasco. He also chopped his hand and left ear.

The suspect threw away the knife into the Loay River and fled the crime scene. He was arrested by the police when he was spotted at the town cemetery.

The police did not find a cellphone in Miasco’s possession.

Miasco’s co-workers said he was wrongly accused by the suspect.

It was also learned during the investigation that Cahagas, a native of Dulag, Leyte, was an errand boy of the lantsa (motorboat) years ago.  His companions didn’t allow him to go fishing with them when they learned that he was a drug user.

“Kanang bataa, tungod kay wala gipasakay, dinha sa sulod sa merkado nagpuyo. Ila ra pud tagaan og isda [That kid, because he was not allowed to board the fishing boat, has chosen to in the market. They would just give him fish],” said case investigator PO1 Donald Curan.

Miasco’s wife, Mary Grace, said he was supposed to go home on Tuesday in Barangay Lungsoda-an in Candijay town in Bohol province to celebrate the first birthday of their son Jake Cyrus tomorrow, Jan. 30. 

Mary Grace, who is pregnant, confronted the suspect inside the police station. The suspect , however, just lowered his head.

Later, Cahagas admitted to GMA News that he regrets his action.

“Nagmahay ko. Naghilak gani ko kay nagmahay ko nga nabuhat nako (I express my deep regret. I cried because of my deep regret for the incident),” Cahagas said.

According to police, the suspect is facing a murder charge. — BAP, GMA News