A man was punched and thwacked by a number of persons while he was onstage about to perform a serenade for a beauty pageant.

The incident happened during the Binibining Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Molo Pageant in Barangay San Juan, Molo, Iloilo City on the night of July 20, 2024.

The victim identified as Jenard Lerona was about to perform a serenade for pageant contestants. On his way up the stage, a woman identified as Ana Hocate kicked him allegedly.

While on stage, other persons went after him and assaulted him.

“Naglikaw lang ni si Jenard Lerona pero nagsunod pa guid, pulihan hampak kag kastigo sang mga upod kag pamilya ni Ana Hocate (Umiwas lang si Jenard Lerona ngunit sinundan pa, pinagtulungan, hinampas at binugbog ng mga kasamahan at kaanak ni Ana Hocate,” according to Lieutenant Geronimo Gano, deputy station commander of Molo Police Station.

Hocate is said to be an aunt of one of the beauty pageant contestants.

An old grudge was seen as the motive of the incident.

Both are reportedly employees of the Iloilo City Government. As of posting time, GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas news team tried to locate which offices in the Local Government Unit are the two persons assigned.

The two refused to grant an interview on the incident.

“Actually sa record sang barangay kag diri sa amon may daan na sila nga grudges nga personalan guro sa ila (Actually sa record ng barangay at dito sa amin, dati na silang may grudges na personalan siguro),” Lt. Gano added.

The pageant was stalled momentarily because of the incident. The program resumed when Lerona and Hocate were taken to the police station.

After the two gave their statements to the police, they are set to face again at the barangay hall.

The barangay has not yet issued a statement on the incident.