Hi, My Name is...62

In the Philippines trees can be deadly. Especially coconut trees. Say hello to some people who met their ultimate fate at the hands of a tree.

Hi, my name is Vergilio Sayago. My brother-in-law and I had been having an argument about uprooted coconut trees. We tried to resolve the problem through the barangay but to no avail. So, I went over to his house to confront him, carrying a gun for my safety. I did not believe any of his excuses. During our argument his wife and their daughters. His wife, my sister, brought a bolo and that is when I began shooting, killing my brother-in-law and his daughter and wounding his other daughter. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/504168/brother-in-law-kills-farmer-pregnant-daughter-over-uprooted-coconut-tree

An altercation over an uprooted coconut tree ended in the fatal shooting of a farmer and his pregnant daughter, and the wounding of the farmer’s other daughter in Barangay Cadulawan, Minglanilla town in southern Cebu at past 5 a.m. today, May 13.

The suspect, the brother-in-law of the farmer, was arrested in his house a few hours later in the barangay.

Police Captain Kalvin Jomari Golitod of the Minglanilla Police Station identified the dead victims as Alfredo Herbias, 67; and his daughter, Marjorie Caparida, 30.

Golitod said that Caparida was seven months pregnant.

“The father was hit in the chest. The pregnant woman was really shot in the face,” said the police captain.

Golitod also said that the third victim, Florgen Bastatas, 35, who is the eldest daughter of Alfredo, was also wounded in the attack.

Bastatas was shot in the stomach.

The victims were rushed to the Minglanilla District Hospital but the attending physician declared Alfredo and Caparidas dead on arrival while Bastatas was transferred to the Vicente Sotto Medical Center.

Golitod said that the suspect, Vergilio Sayago, 62, said that he and Alfred tried to settle their differences, especially on the uprooted coconuts, in the barangay once, but this was not resolved.

Initial Investigation showed that at past 5 a.m. today, May 13, Sayago confronted Alfredo in his house about an uprooted coconut tree in Sayago’s lot.

Witnesses said that Sayago allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Alfredo.

Sayago also then shot Alfredo’s daughters.

Golitod said that the gun used by the suspect was a paltik .357 Magnum revolver.

The Police Captain said that Sayago claimed that he bought the gun in Naga City.

Golitod said double murder and frustrated murder charges would be filed against Sayago.

Sayago, for his part, also said during an interview with dyHP that when he confronted Alfredo he made sure that he had with him a gun.

He said that he just wanted to be sure of his safety.

"Why don’t you know [about the uprooted tree]? Why did you uproot the coconut tree?," said Sayago.

But Alfredo told him that he did not know about it.

Sayago, however, said that he did not believe Alfredo because the farmer’s house was just near where the uprooted coconut was planted.

But then, Sayago claimed that Alfredo’s daughters and his wife joined the altercation.

Sayago also claimed that he started shooting when he saw that his sister was allegedly bringing with her a bolo.

Police Captain Golitod said that Sayago was arrested in his house and was detained at the Minglanilla Police Station detention cell pending the filing of charges.

Hi, my name is being withheld to protect the identity of my daughter. She left home one afternoon without my permission and that angered me. So, I stormed off to find her. When I had located her I dragged her home and beat her with a branch. By the time we arrived home she was unresponsive so I placed her in a sack and brought her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/06/17/woman-beats-six-year-old-daughter-to-death-with-tree-branch-in-lamitan-city

Police are investigating the death of a six-year-old girl who was allegedly hit and killed by her own mother in what was believed to be a child abuse case in Lamitan City, Basilan last June 14. 

Investigation showed that the girl left her home last Saturday afternoon to buy vegetables with a cousin without notifying her mother. 

Apparently enraged by the child's absence, the mother set off and found the girl by the roadside. Witnesses said the girl was repeatedly hit with a tree branch and dragged home. 

Upon their return, the woman placed the unresponsive child inside a sack and brought her to the Lamitan District Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. 

Police arrested the woman who is now facing parricide charges in relation to Republic Act 7610, the law which provides special protection for children against abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. 

Police Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz, Bangsamoro police chief, urged the community to be vigilant against suspected cases of child abuse.

Hi, our names have been withheld. One afternoon we were riding a motorocycle and enjoying life. All of a sudden a tree fell over right onto us. We  were killed instnatly. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/07/18/2-men-killed-by-falling-tree-in-camarines-sur

Two men onboard a motorcycle were killed by a falling tree on the Gov. Fuentebella Highway in Barangay Moriones, Ocampo town, Camarines Sur province, at noon on Friday, July 18.

Police Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, Police Regional Office-5 spokesperson identified the victims as Christian, 36, and Freddy Mar, 33, residents of San Isidro, Naga City. 

Initial investigation said an acacia tree suddenly toppled over and fell directly onto them. 

They were taken to a hospital where they were declared dead from serious injuries. 

Follow-up investigation is ongoing.

Hi, my name is being withheld but I was a nine-month pregnant woman. I was walking home after doing the laundry at a well near my house. It was a clam and clear day. All of a sudden a 100-year-old coconut tree toppled over on top of me. Even though I was so close to giving birth my baby also died. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/07/18/nine-month-pregnant-woman-killed-by-falling-coconut-tree

A nine-month pregnant woman was killed by a falling coconut tree in Barangay Ticulon, Malita, Davao Occidental on Thursday. 

Reports said the 23-year-old victim was walking on her way home after doing the laundry in a well near her house when a coconut tree suddenly toppled. 

The victim was hit along with her pet dog. The canine died on the spot. 

She was taken to a hospital where she died of serious injuries. Her baby also died. 

Reports said the weather was clear and the wind was calm when the incident happened. 

The coconut tree was estimated to be about 100-years-old. 

The victim was about to give birth anytime when she died. 

A photo taken by the police showed her husband hugging her body.

Hi, my name is Catalina. One day I was out but I didn't come home. My brother later found me pinned underneath a fallen coconut tree. Apparently the recent typhoon softened he ground enough that it toppled over. It just so happened that it toppled over onto me and killed me.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2087718/woman-crushed-to-death-by-falling-coconut-tree-in-batangas

A woman died on Saturday after being struck by a falling coconut tree in Calaca City, Batangas, police said on Sunday.

According to a report from the Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A), the victim, identified only as “Catalina,” was found lying on the ground in Barangay Puting Kahoy at 6:45 p.m.

Her body, which sustained fatal injuries to the head and leg, was discovered beneath the uprooted coconut tree by her brother.

Preliminary investigation indicated that the tree fell due to the softening of the surrounding soil, likely caused by days of heavy rain brought by the southwest monsoon.

Hi, my name is Andrew. I was out harvesting coconuts with three other people when all of a sudden a coconut tree fell over onto of me. I died of a cerebral hemorrhage. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/07/29/farmer-killed-by-falling-coconut-tree

48-year-old coconut farmer was killed by a falling coconut tree on Monday morning, July 28, in Barangay Bucao, here. 

Police identified the victim as Andrew. 

The victim, along with three others, was harvesting coconuts in a coconut farm owned by the barangay chairman when a coconut tree suddenly toppled and hit him. 

The incident was reported by the barangay chairman to the police. 

He died on the spot and based on the examination of the municipal health officer, the cause of death of the victim was cerebral hemorrhage secondary to an accidental fall from a coconut tree.