Vendor stabbed dead by ex-con

CEBU, Philippines -  A vendor of secondhand clothes or ‘ukay-ukay’ in Barangay Luray II, Toledo City was stabbed dead by his ex-convict neighbor Tuesday afternoon.

Police said, 44-year-old Peter Galolo died while on his way to the Toledo City Hospital due to nine stab wounds in his body which mostly hit his left chest.

Crisencio Palatulon, 30 is still subject of a manhunt operation after he eluded arrest.

Palatulon reportedly had hidden grudges to Galolo and as revenge, killed the victim who was just feeding his fighting cocks prior to the incident.

Senior Police Officer 1 Demelon Cotmaya, Toledo police investigator, said the grudges stemmed from the incident where Galolo was pointed as the one who attempted to burn the house of Palatulon a week ago.

Cotmaya said that when Palatulon noticed smoke coming from the back portion of his house he saw Galolo not in the act of burning his house, but just urinating nearby. He then tagged Galolo as suspect of attempted arson.

“Mao may naa didto nangihi dili gyud ingon nga siya gaduslit,” Cotmaya said.

However, the fire only damaged a small portion of the house after it was extinguished by their neighbors.

 Cotmaya said they failed to recover the knife used by the suspect.

Police tried but failed to locate Palatulon in his hideouts.

Palatulon was convicted of the crime of murder and was jailed at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Police could not tell when he was released from jail.

They are also coordinating with the friends of Palatulon to determine his other possible hideouts.

The family of Galolo will be filing appropriate charges against the suspect after the victim’s burial. — (FREEMAN)