Ex-con stabs man in row on dance floor

A 45-year-old man was stabbed to death by an alleged ex-convict after they got into a fight during a benefit dance in sitio Laray, barangay Carreta, yesterday morning.

The victim identified as Rodencio de los Santos, a resident of the said area, suffered a single stab wound on the left portion of his chest after he was attacked by a certain Eddie Lagaras, alias "Eddie Patok".

Berlina Rico, the common-law wife of the victim, was the one who reported the incident to the Homicide Section yesterday morning. She told investigators that De los Santos went there for the benefit dance last Saturday night in celebration of the sitio's fiesta, but later on learned that delos Santos got into a row with the suspect on the dance floor.

She said her live-in partner barged into their house bloodied and identified Lagaras as the one who attacked him.

Rico said that De los Santos also identified a certain Johnny, reportedly an uncle of Lagaras, who allegedly kicked him first before the suspect proceeded to stab him.

Rico said Lagaras was jailed in the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, but she failed to specify his misdemeanor.

Together with some neighbors, Rico took the victim to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center where Delos Santos later expired.

Meanwhile, a 48-year-old man was stabbed to death while he was watching a benefit dance in barangay Sta. Cruz, San Francisco town, Camotes Island, last Friday evening.

Bienvenido Borlasa, a resident of sitio Panhay of the said barangay, was allegedly stabbed by a certain Samuel Nudalo, 39, single, a resident of sitio Cambadles, barangay Northern Poblacion, of the same town.

Initial investigation conducted by San Francisco policemen SPO1 Jose Argallon and PO1 Cosme Tampus revealed that Borlasa was watching a benefit dance during the fiesta celebration in said place when the stabbing occurred.

Without any provocation, Nudalo allegedy stabbed Borlasa using a 12-inch stainless knife. Borlasa was wounded in the left portion of his body and was rushed to the Edgardo Maningo District Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival by the doctor there.

San Francisco Duty Desk Officer PO3 Ananias Mortejo yesterday said the suspect denied stabbing Borlasa, although he admitted it was true that he once harbored a grudge against the victim he claimed whatever conflict they had in the past this was already resolved.

"Niingon man ni siya nako sa diha'ng akong gipangutana nga naa lagi kuno ni sila'y grudge sa una aning biktima, pero amigo na man daw sila. Nilimod siya nga maoy nidunggab, unya patay gyud ang biktima kay naigo sa iyang kuto-kuto. Naigo iyang kasing-kasing," Mortejo said.

But police also said that a witness positively identified Nudalo as the one who stabbed Borlasa. Responding cops recovered the knife used in the crime from the possession of the suspect.

Mortejo also said that initial investigation revealed both suspect and victim were drunk at the time. In fact, the suspect smelled of liquor when he was taken to the police station.

The suspect is now under the custody of the San Francisco police pending charges that are expected to be filed against him today in court. - Norvie S. Misa and Edwin Ian Melecio/MEEV