Man beaten to death over alleged unpaid debt in Pangasinan

A 68-year-old man was beaten to death with a bamboo pole after he allegedly tried to collect a debt from the suspect in Laoac, Pangasinan, police said.

The attack happened on the evening on July 13 in Barangay Cabilaoan. Police said the victim was lying on the terrace of an abandoned house when the suspect arrived carrying a bamboo pole that he allegedly used to repeatedly struck the victim on the head.

Investigators believe the killing stemmed from a long-standing dispute over money.

Police Major Glenn Dulay, chief of the Laoac Police Station, said authorities are looking at an old grudge linked to the suspect's unpaid debt to the victim as the motive.

"Ang tinitingnan po nating anggulo doon ay 'yung old grudge dahil nagmula na rin po ito sa pagkakautang ng suspek dito po sa victim natin," Dulay said.

(We ae looking at an old grudge that stemmed from a debt the suspect owed the victim.)

Police added that the victim and the suspect had argued several times in the days leading up to the incident.

The suspect admitted to attacking the victim, claiming he became angry after being repeatedly reminded about his debt.

"Tapos nakaupo kaming dalawa sa flooring. Bumangon, kinukulit na naman ako. 'Yung utang ko daw. Dami 'kong utang daw," the suspect said.

(We were both seated on the floor. He got up, kept on asking for the money I owed him. That I had many debts.)

The suspect also claimed that the victim owed him money as well, but said he had already let it go.

The victim's family said they are determined to pursue criminal charges against the suspect.

Catalina Erese, the victim’s sister, said the family was devastated by the manner of his death.

"Ang hirap na tanggapin 'yung ganoon ang pagkamatay niya kasi sobra, sobra po. Nasaktan kami sa nakita naming kalagayan nung namatay na siya," she said.

(It's hard for us to accept how he died because it was just too much. It was painful for us to see how he was killed.)

She added that the victim sustained multiple injuries.

"Dami niyang sugat po, lahat sa mukha… sa leeg. Kaya tuloy po 'yung kaso," she added.

(He suffered many injuries, on the face... on the neck. We are pursuing the case.)

Police are preparing the appropriate charges against the suspect, as of press time.—CJ Torida, GMA Regional TV News