"Robber" stabs store owner dead

CEBU, Philippines – A sari-sari store owner died after he was stabbed by an unidentified young man believed to be a robber in Sitio Highway Tagunol, Barangay Basak-San Nicolas yesterday afternoon.

Ernesto Ceballos Ricablanca, 43, died of a fatal stab wound in his left chest.

Police said the victim was manning his store at the ground floor of his house at around 12:30 p.m. when the assailant barged inside and stabbed him.

Santiago Ricablanca, the victim's elder brother who was doing something at the second floor, heard the victim shouted, "Gidunggab ko, 'noy."

Santiago and their brother-in-law rushed victim to the Cebu City Medical Center where he was declared dead a few minutes later.

Santiago told the police that when they rushed downstairs, he still saw the assailant fleeing on foot towards Sitio Ubos Poso. They no longer went after the assailant as they made sure that the victim would be taken immediately to the hospital.

He described the suspect as wearing a dark blue-colored shirt and denim pants. Some residents who also saw the fleeing assailant described him as below 20 years old.

The police recovered a blood-stained 12-inch knife at the crime scene

PO3 Victor Ruel Ayuman of the Homicide Section said that initially, they are looking into robbery as the motive behind the incident.

"Sa intial investigation namo, tulis ni siya kay magsuot man ni siya ug gold necklace ug bracelet, dayon pag-adto sa ospital kay wala na man iyang alahas. Pero susihon pa g'yud ni nato," Ayuman said.

Meanwhile, a 21-year-old college student was stabbed by her neighbor in Sitio Pangpang, Barangay Tapilon, Daanbantayan Saturday morning.

Wanawen Cabusa Ducante, a student of Cebu Technological University, sustained stabbed wounds in the different parts of her body after Rey Delos Santos a.k.a "Waway," 27, stabbed her with the use of a bolo.

At around 7 a.m., Ducante was allegedly at the house of her aunt, Celsa Cabusa, cleaning the front yard and was cutting some grasses when Delos Santos appeared and with no apparent reason, grabbed the bladed instrument used by the victim and stabbed her twice.

Family of the victim immediately brought her to Daanbantayan District Hospital for medical treatment but was later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Barangay councilman Mark Anthony Luche and some tanods later arrested delos Santos and turned him over to the police for detention and filing of charges.

Police are still trying to determine what was the reason behind the attack.

In Danao City, two men landed in the hospital after they figured in a brawl during a drinking spree on Almentras Street, Barangay Suba, Saturday evening.

Jinemar Ebalarosa Lawas, 30, sustained injury on the head while Joel Bacalso, 42, sustained wounds in his stomach and left hand.

Bacalso was allegedly having a drinking spree outside his house with some friends when Lawas passed by. PO2 Marlon Remollo, said some of Bacalso's friends made some joke to Lawas but the latter allegedly got mad.

Bacalso tried to pacify his friends but Lawas reportedly took a barbecue stick and stabbed him several times.

During the commotion, one of Bacalso's friends struck Lawas with a piece of wood on the head. - Niña G. Sumacot and Mellanie C. Rosales /WAB (FREEMAN)