Coclé province in Panama has recorded its third homicide in January 2026. Commissioner Saúl Sánchez stated that the alleged perpetrator has been identified, and operations are underway to apprehend him. The incident occurred in the community of Pozo Azul, north of Penonomé, where a 40-year-old man was fatally wounded during a brawl involving a bladed weapon. The victim had recently moved from the capital to this mountainous area seeking tranquility, which was ultimately taken from him. Authorities are alarmed as all three attacks share a disturbing pattern: the use of bladed weapons. The community has also raised concerns about high alcohol and substance abuse among local groups. Consequently, Sánchez has called for stricter regulations on liquor permits, exacerbating the problem of clandestine alcohol sales by some residents.
Third Homicide in Panama This January
A third homicide has been recorded in Coclé province this January. A man was killed in a brawl with a bladed weapon. Authorities are concerned about rising violence and call for stricter alcohol sales control.
