A 50-year-old farmer was left critically injured after a brutal hacking incident that severed his hand in the early hours of Friday, April 17, 2026, in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat.
Police identified the victim as Reynaldo Celeste Calaor, a resident of Purok 7, Barangay Sinakulay. Calaor sustained multiple deep wounds, including a severe slash to the left side of his neck and the complete amputation of his left hand.
According to the initial police investigation, the attack occurred at around 2:00 a.m. after authorities received a distress call from a concerned citizen reporting a violent altercation in the area. Responding personnel from the President Quirino Municipal Police Station immediately rushed to the scene.
Investigators said the suspect, identified only by the alias “Kulot,” approximately 30 years old and reportedly a temporary resident of the same barangay, repeatedly hacked the victim during the assault. The motive behind the attack has yet to be established.
The victim’s severed hand was recovered at the crime scene, underscoring the brutality of the assault. Calaor was immediately transported to the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital, where he is currently receiving emergency medical treatment. His condition remains critical as of this writing.
Following the incident, the suspect fled toward an unknown direction and remains at large. Authorities have launched an intensive hot pursuit operation and are coordinating with nearby police units to track down and arrest the perpetrator.
Police urged anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts to immediately report to the nearest police station, as efforts continue to bring the assailant to justice.