An elderly couple were brutally hacked to death with a cane cutter allegedly by their adopted son in a remote barangay of Himamaylan City at 5 a.m. yesterday.

Killed were Francisco Villamor, 76, and his wife, Crispina Villamor, 77. Both sustained multiple hack wounds, when discovered in their house in Barangay Mahalang about 25 kilometers from Himamaylan City proper, PO3 Maria Rona Entera said yesterday.

Francisco, a farmer, died on the spot, while Crispina, who also had a stab wounds in her body, died at a hospital in Kabankalan City, Entera said.

Four persons died in vehicular accidents Saturday in E.B. Magalona and Murcia, Negros Occidental, police records show.

Three of the four victims were declared dead on arrival at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, and the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.

The other one also died later at the regional hospital in Bacolod City.

Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz was chosen by Mayor Evelio Leonardia as the permanent City Police Director yesterday.

De la Paz who has served for more than two months as officer-in-charge bested other nominees for the post who included Western Visayas Highway Patrol Group chief, Senior Supt. Cesar Jacob, Senior Supt. Herminio Tadeo from Camp Crame, former Region III chief of Police Aviation Service, Senior Supt. Eleodoro Ocampo, and former Tuguegarao City deputy director Senior Supt. Domingo Lucas.

Before his appointment, members of the business sector and other stake holders in Bacolod had pushed for the permanent appointment of de la Paz as city director of the BCPO after noting changes in the anti-criminality drive in the city.