A 65-year-old mother was arrested after allegedly attacking her own son with a machete following a heated argument inside their home in Barangay Bubual, San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur.
The victim, identified only by the alias “Boning,” 31, sustained a deep hack wound on the left side of his face after he was reportedly struck by his mother, alias “Lucy,” during a drunken confrontation on Wednesday.
According to a report from the San Pablo Municipal Police Station, authorities immediately responded to a call from a concerned citizen regarding a commotion in Purok 3 of the said barangay.
Initial police investigation revealed that both the suspect and the victim had just come from a neighbor’s birthday celebration where they allegedly consumed alcoholic drinks and were believed to be intoxicated.
Police said tensions escalated when the mother and son arrived home, leading to a heated exchange that eventually turned violent.
In a fit of anger, the mother allegedly grabbed a bladed weapon locally known as a “lagaw” and hacked her son in the face.
The victim suffered a severe facial injury and was immediately rushed to the Rural Health Unit for medical treatment.
Responding police officers arrested the elderly mother at the scene and recovered the bladed weapon used in the attack as evidence. She was later brought to the San Pablo Municipal Police Station while authorities prepared the appropriate charges against her.
Further investigation is still ongoing.
However, investigators later learned that the incident may have stemmed from years of tension and alleged abuse inside the household.
According to the mother’s statement to authorities, she had already reached her breaking point after allegedly enduring repeated violent behavior from her son, especially whenever he became intoxicated.
She claimed that her son would often hurt her physically, destroy household belongings, and at times even attempt to stab her during drunken episodes.
The incident has drawn attention from residents in the community, with many expressing concern over unresolved domestic conflicts worsened by alcohol and prolonged family disputes.
Authorities have yet to determine whether additional complaints involving previous incidents between the mother and son had been formally reported before the hacking incident occurred.