KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato – A 59-year-old mechanic who previously survived a shooting attempt was killed in a gruesome hacking attack inside his vulcanizing shop at the boundary of Barangay Lanao and Barangay Balindog on Tuesday evening, August 19.
The victim, identified as Pepito “Jun” Guillermo, was found lifeless outside the restroom of his shop, blood pooling on the floor after sustaining a deep hack wound to the head believed to have been inflicted with a bolo or an axe.
According to police, Guillermo was with his two minor children at the shop when he went to the restroom and never returned. His common-law wife, upon arriving later, discovered his body already soaked in blood.
The tragedy struck months after Guillermo narrowly survived a gun attack in May, when he and his partner were shot while jogging in Barangay Lanao. He sustained only a graze wound on his ear, while his wife was unharmed. The couple had temporarily gone into hiding following that incident after noticing suspicious individuals monitoring their home.
In fear of another attempt on their lives, the family developed a routine of closing the shop early and dining outside before heading home. But on Tuesday, Guillermo reportedly decided to cook at the shop instead, as a customer was expected to pick up a repaired tire.
The Kidapawan City Police are now investigating whether Guillermo’s death is connected to the earlier shooting incident. Authorities have yet to identify the assailants or determine the motive behind the killing.
Guillermo leaves behind his common-law wife and their two young children, now grieving the violent loss of a husband and father.