KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato – A 56-year-old man was brutally hacked to death by an unidentified assailant while on his way to work early Thursday morning, January 8, 2026, in Barangay Sudapin, Kidapawan City.
The victim was identified as Gerry (Jerry) Valdevieso, a resident of Luvimin, Kidapawan City. Police said Valdevieso was riding his motorcycle en route to the Mega Market, where he worked at an ice vending stall, when he was attacked.
Based on initial investigation, the victim was waylaid by an unknown suspect in Purok 7A, Sudapin. He was repeatedly hacked with a bladed weapon, sustaining multiple fatal wounds to the head and neck. Authorities said the brutality of the attack suggests intense rage or personal grudge on the part of the assailant.
After the attack, Valdevieso’s lifeless body was reportedly dumped near a banana tree, where he was later found bloodied and mutilated, with one of his hands severed. He was declared dead at the scene.
Police investigators noted that the victim suffered numerous deep wounds, particularly on the neck and head, indicating that he was relentlessly struck until he succumbed to his injuries.
The family of the victim is now appealing for justice, calling on authorities to intensify efforts to identify and arrest the perpetrator behind the gruesome killing.
As of this writing, the Kidapawan City Police Station continues to conduct a thorough investigation, reviewing possible motives and angles, and gathering information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect.
Authorities also urged anyone with information related to the incident to come forward and cooperate with law enforcement to help bring justice to the victim and his grieving family.