A 23-year-old man is now detained at the Inayawan Police Station 7 after beating his father with a wooden plank on Friday afternoon, June 12, 2026, in Sitio Abellare, Barangay Kinasang-an, Cebu City. The incident was triggered by his anger over the lack of food.
The suspect has been identified as Lawrence Tabora Dacay, single, while the victim is his 49-year-old father, Ernesto Dacay, a fish vendor. Lawrence is currently facing charges of attempted parricide.
Father Seeks Help
According to the father, he sought help from barangay tanods after his violent son tried to kill him. Ernesto revealed that he had earlier scolded his son for his drug addiction.
Instead of listening, the suspect became aggressive. He grabbed a wooden plank about 30 inches long and struck the victim on the head.
Ernesto ran away and asked for assistance from the tanods, who quickly arrested the suspect. They found him with bloodshot eyes, apparently under the influence of drugs.
Suspect Admits Guilt
When interviewed by SunStar SuperBalita Cebu, Lawrence admitted his crime. He said that earlier in the morning, he had cooked rice but by 2:00 p.m., he had not yet eaten because his father did not provide any viand.
"My head was aching, I was angry at him! There was no viand, so I beat him," Lawrence said.
He also admitted that he hit a pot out of frustration.
The suspect further confessed that he had previously been taken to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) for drug abuse.
Regret and Apology
Despite his actions, Lawrence expressed regret and apologized to his parents, hoping he would not be sent to the Cebu City Jail.
