Man killed by neighbor over mangoes in Binangonan

A 56-year-old man was killed in Binangonan, Rizal after his neighbor repeatedly stabbed him in the neck over his mangoes.

In Mariz Umali’s exclusive report, suspect Roberto Scott was caught in a video stabbing his neighbor Mauro Lopez multiple times on the morning of May 18.

Lopez even tried to get up but failed because of Scott was on top of him.

Despite the call for help from bystanders, no one was able to stop the incident, leaving the victim lying down on the street.

“Eto pong anak ng suspek ay paulit-ulit nagnanakaw ng bunga ng mangga sa kanilang tanim,” Binangonan Police chief Lt. Col Evangeline Santos said in an interview.

“‘Yun po yung ikinagalit nung kanyang asawa na humantong po sa confrontation nung una and then ito pong nangyari yung insidente ay inabangan na po yung biktima at doon na po pinagsasaksak nung ating suspek,” he added.

Lopez sustained five stabs in the neck, which caused his death.

Meanwhile, Scott left the crime scene on a motorcycle. He is now charged with murder.

“Pagdadala ng patalim, may intention ka na na makasakit ng tao,” Santos said. “Kung saan niya talaga po sinaksak yung tao na sa leeg na ‘yun ay talagang ikamamatay yung tao.”

(Carrying a knife means you already have the intention to kill a person. Stabbing a person in the neck will surely kill him.)

Lourdes Quijano, widow of Lopez, said what happened to her husband was painful because he just tried to stop their neighbor from climbing the mango tree since they might be electrified.

“Kaya lang namin binakuran yung kalahati dahil nga, yung tao na yan, trespassing yan,” Quijano said. “ Pwedeng hingin. Magsabi lang.”

(The reason why we enclose the area is because they are trespassing. They can ask for mangoes. They only have to ask.)

According to a police investigation, the stealing of mangoes has been going on for several years.

“Ang sabi po minsan ang nakukuha nila ay nasa 30 kilos na mangga,” Santos said. “Accordingly, based nga po sa statement, ay yun po yung ibinibenta nitong mga bata at nung suspek.

(The children and the suspect are reportedly to take, and later on sell, 30 kilos of mangoes.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/NB, GMA Integrated News