A drunk man beheaded his sleeping nephew with a chainsaw in Culaba, Biliran, on Sunday, then told police he had simply been dreaming of cutting a coconut tree.
Roger Paje, a 48-year-old chainsaw operator, attacked his nephew, construction worker Eduardo Rosquitos, 30, as he slept after the two finished a drinking session in the village of Bool East, The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
The two men started their binge at the suspect’s house at about 8am. A guest, Edgardo Cañete, Paje’s colleague, was also on hand, according to the Manila Bulletin. Cañete said that after imbibing alcohol, he and Rosquitos ended up sleeping on the floor.
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At about 1pm, Cañete woke up to the sound of a chainsaw’s engine and witnessed Paje attacking his own nephew, killing him more or less instantaneously as he severed Rosquitos’ head from his shoulders, then cutting off his hands for good measure.
After seeing the gruesome killing, Cañete ran away from the house and called for help, reported SunStar Tacloban.
The suspect surrendered immediately. Paje told arriving police that he had been unaware of his bloody actions and had been dreaming that he was cutting down a coconut tree.
Paje is currently detained at the Culaba Municipal Police Station, where he will be charged with murder.