Heated argument at a local market leads to machete attack

• A 41-year-old tricycle driver was arrested after allegedly attacking his colleague with a machete in San Jose, Negros Oriental
• The victim is currently recovering at a hospital in Sibulan after sustaining injuries during the Sunday morning confrontation
• Initial police investigations suggest the violent outburst was triggered by a heated disagreement over queuing for passengers
• In a separate incident on the same day, local rescuers saved three individuals after their pumpboat capsized in nearby waters

A typical Sunday morning at a local market in San Jose, Negros Oriental, took a terrifying turn when a long-standing rivalry over passengers escalated into a bloody confrontation. On January 18, 2026, a 41-year-old tricycle driver was taken into police custody after he allegedly chased his fellow drivers with a machete and hacked one of them.

According to the San Jose Municipal Police Station, the suspect reached a breaking point following a bicker with other drivers. The argument, which centered on who would pick up waiting passengers, quickly spiraled out of control. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the suspect brandished the large blade and began chasing his colleagues through the vicinity of the market.

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While most of the drivers managed to flee, a 46-year-old resident of Barangay Tapon Norte was not as lucky. The suspect caught up with him and delivered a hacking blow. The victim was immediately rushed to a medical facility and is currently recuperating at a hospital in the neighboring town of Sibulan.

GMA Regional TV News Balitang Bisdak reached out to the suspect, who is currently detained, but he has yet to release an official statement regarding the outburst.

Tricycle driving is a high-pressure job in provincial hubs like San Jose, where drivers often spend long hours under the sun competing for a limited number of commuters. These "terminal disputes" are common, but they rarely reach this level of violence. Local authorities are now looking into stricter monitoring of transport terminals to ensure the safety of both workers and the riding public.

While the community was reeling from the violence at the market, another emergency unfolded at sea later that afternoon. Three individuals, including a woman, were rescued after their pumpboat began to submerge in the waters off Barangay Santo Niño. The boat had departed from Barangay Campaclan in Sibulan and was en route to San Jose when it encountered trouble. Fortunately, members of the Bantay Dagat were quick to respond, pulling all three passengers to safety before the vessel could fully sink.

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The San Jose police are currently processing the charges against the machete-wielding driver while monitoring the recovery of the victim.

The recent violence in Negros Oriental is a grim reminder of how domestic and workplace disputes can turn fatal in an instant. This incident echoes a tragic report from last year where a senior citizen couple was found dead following a brutal hacking. In that case, the male victim suffered extreme mutilation, highlighting a disturbing trend of bladed weapon violence in local communities.

Similarly, law enforcement agencies across the region continue to struggle with heat-of-the-moment crimes triggered by personal grudges. In Janiuay, police recently launched a manhunt for a suspect involved in a family-related hacking incident that left relatives in shock. Such cases emphasize the need for better conflict resolution within neighborhoods to prevent such bloody outcomes.

Source: KAMI.com.gh