Enraged that he was listed as a drug addict in his neighborhood in Barangay Busay in Cebu City, a 26-year-old man went on a stabbing rampage against the neighbors he suspected of reporting him to barangay authorities, killing two and wounding another.
Eddie Ardiente, 26, who was reportedly drunk, barged into the house of a certain Leclec Balolot in Sitio Maaslom, Barangay Busay at around 8 p.m. armed with a knife. He then proceeded to stab Balolot on suspicion that the latter’s father was the one who had him listed as one of the drug users in their area.
Village chief Yody Sanchez, in a phone interview, said based on the accounts of the neighbors, Ardiente then proceeded to another neighbor’s house, that of couple Ricardo and Francesca Cupta.
He first stabbed Francesca, who was in the kitchen and shouted for help. Her screams were heard by her husband Ricardo who came to help her but was also stabbed by Ardiente.
Sanchez said Ardiente was also mad at Francesca who had earlier told him to surrender because he is a drug user.
Erwin, a brother of Ardiente, told police that before committing the crime, his brother had vowed to let the people who called him an addict pay.
Sanchez said responding policemen and barangay tanods (village watchmen) were still in pursuit of Eddie who was last seen jumping into a nearby river.
Balolot was now being treated in a local hospital while the Cupta couple died of multiple stab wounds in separate hospitals in the city, according to Sanchez.
The listing of drug users and peddlers has become commonplace in practically all communities in the country over the last week ever since the Philippine National Police initiated Oplan Tokhang, a campaign that engages the residents in identifying users and traders of illicit drug in their villages.
The drug users and peddlers are then called to join the so-called mass surrender ceremonies and are asked to sign an oath promising to stop using or selling drugs, usually in the presence of police, village and municipal, city or provincial officials.