Police: Sleepless man kills two stepsons in Aklan

A jobless man, reportedly sleepless for days, killed his two stepsons and tried to kill his own five-year-old son Monday morning in a remote town in Aklan province, police said. A string of criminal charges are now being readied against Ronie Gumapac, 44, for the killing of Raymart dela Cruz, 12, and his brother Ryan, 10, said Superintendent John Lemuel Villafranca of the Aklan Provincial Police. Responding police found the two victims around 7 a.m. inside their house with their throats slashed, Villafranca said. “As early as 2 a.m., their neighbors said that they have already heard commotion inside the house. It was at 7 a.m. when our personnel arrived there after the barangay chairman sought for police assistance," said Villafranca. He said Gumapac tried to resist arrest by holding hostage his five-year old son and threatening to kill him with a jungle bolo. The ensuing negotiation, however, prompted the suspect to release his son at around 8 a.m. “During that time, the suspect had already a deep wound on the chest. We believe that he tried to commit suicide," said Villafranca. Two members of the local Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) were able to grab the jungle bolo from Gumapac, which prevented him from killing himself. Gumapac, upon interrogation, said he had not slept for five days due to the threats he said he’s receiving from the relatives of his wife, who’s currently working in Dubai. “He appears to be suffering from mental problems because of the restlessness and stress. He said he had not slept for five days so we believe that it prompted him to commit the crime," said Villafranca of the suspect. Villafranca said Gumaca’s son is currently under observation due to the wounds he suffered on the neck. - KBK, GMANews.TV