GUIHULNGAN CITY, Philippines — A 64-year-old barangay watchman was killed Saturday afternoon after he was struck repeatedly with a metal pipe by a neighbor following a dispute that began over an electricity bill in a rural community in Negros Oriental, local authorities and community reports said.

The victim, identified as Bobby Delatore, an active barangay tanod and longtime resident of Sitio Ilaya 2 in Barangay Tinayunan, died shortly after the assault, which occurred at about 2:30 p.m. on March 7, according to initial accounts gathered by local media and residents in the area.

Police and barangay officials said the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Joven Anraque, a single man who also lives in the same community, fled after the attack and remains the subject of an ongoing manhunt by authorities.

Investigators said the violence appeared to have been triggered by a dispute involving an electricity bill that had allegedly been posted at the suspect’s residence despite claims that the bill had already been paid.

Accounts from neighbors indicated that tensions escalated earlier in the day when the suspect confronted his father about the matter. According to witnesses cited in a report by the DYJL News Team, the suspect became angry upon seeing the electricity bill displayed at their home.

Family members reportedly told investigators that the suspect questioned why the bill had been posted when payment had supposedly already been made.

The argument intensified, and the suspect allegedly attempted to strike his father during the confrontation. The older man left the area shortly afterward, reportedly heading to a nearby lower portion of the sitio to do laundry.

Minutes later, Delatore — who served as one of the community’s barangay tanods tasked with maintaining peace and responding to disturbances — went to the suspect’s residence to check on the situation.

Barangay tanods in the Philippines function as volunteer peacekeepers and frontline responders in villages across the country, often intervening in neighborhood disputes or disturbances before police arrive.

According to witnesses, Delatore approached the residence as part of his duty to assess the earlier altercation.

But instead of calming the situation, authorities believe the encounter turned violent.

Without warning, the suspect allegedly struck Delatore with a metal pipe.

The blows landed primarily on the victim’s head, causing severe injuries. Witnesses said the attack happened quickly and without significant provocation once Delatore arrived at the scene.

Medical responders were called to assist the victim, who sustained serious trauma including head injuries and visible damage near his right eye.

Although residents attempted to rush Delatore for medical attention, he died shortly afterward.

Officials later confirmed that the victim had suffered fatal injuries during the assault.

His remains were taken to San Jose Funeral Services in Guihulngan City, where family members and relatives have begun making funeral arrangements.

Local officials described Delatore as an active and dedicated barangay tanod who had long served the community in maintaining peace and order.

Barangay tanods play a critical role in rural Philippine communities, where police presence can be limited and residents rely heavily on village-level officials to resolve disputes and maintain public safety.

The killing has shocked residents in Sitio Ilaya 2, a small rural area where neighbors typically know each other closely and violent crime is relatively rare.

Community members expressed grief and disbelief over the sudden death of a man known for responding to disturbances and helping mediate conflicts.

Authorities said police units in Guihulngan City have launched a search operation to locate the suspect, who fled after the attack.

Investigators are currently gathering witness statements and preparing possible charges that may include homicide or murder depending on the findings of the investigation.

Law enforcement officials said the suspect could face criminal charges once he is apprehended.

Family members of the victim are also expected to pursue legal action against the suspect.

The incident has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by barangay tanods, who often intervene in disputes without protective equipment or formal law enforcement training.

Across the Philippines, tanods frequently respond to domestic disputes, neighborhood conflicts and other incidents as the first line of community security.

While their work is often voluntary or compensated with minimal allowances, they remain an essential part of local governance and public safety in many villages.

Local leaders in Guihulngan City have called for calm as authorities continue their search for the suspect.

Officials urged residents with information about the whereabouts of the suspect to report immediately to the nearest police station.

As of Saturday evening, the suspect remained at large.

Meanwhile, residents in Barangay Tinayunan are mourning the loss of a community watchman whose final act was responding to a disturbance in the neighborhood he had sworn to help protect.

Photo courtesy of Mitch Dela Torre Pablegar/Facebook | Used for news reporting