Cops shoot dead man who ran amok in Dalaguete

CEBU CITY–A construction worker slit the throat of his wife and stabbed his sister and son inside their residence in Barangay Lanao, Dalaguete town 90.9 kilometers south of Cebu City on Friday dawn.

The suspect, identified as Jose Benjie Beldad, 39, was killed by the responding policemen after he attacked the operatives with a knife.

“We first aimed at his knees but he kept on attacking us. We did not have any option but to shot him on the stomach,” said PO1 Jerson Alcantara who was part of the team who killed the suspect.

Based on the investigation, Jose Benjie, who was suffering from nervous breakdown, went amuck and slit the throat of his wife Wilma and her sister Amalia. The two women died.

The suspect’s brother-in-law sought assistance from Dalaguete policemen who immediately went to Jose Benjie’s residence.

While the police were on their way to the area, they saw the suspect who took hostage of his two sons.

Jose Benjie, however, lost control of his sons who managed to run away. One of his sons, a 12-year-old boy, sustained two stab wounds on the arms. The boy survived.

Jose Benjie attacked the policemen with a knife and was shot. He was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The suspect has no record of using illegal drugs, said PO2 Anabelle Berondo of the Dalaguete Police.