3 brothers arrested for neighbor's death

CEBU, Philippines - Three brothers were arrested for connivance in the stabbing to death of a 60-year-old neighbor Friday evening in barangay Mantuyong, Mandaue City.

The Investigation and Detection Management Bureau said a certain Jerome Ompad, one of the alleged suspects, gave himself up to radio dySS reporter Vic Serna who during that time was covering the story.

Serna then turned over Ompad to the Mandaue City police station 1.

Police said last Friday night, Wilfredo Lucerna, 60, a resident of the place, was having a drink with a friend when a certain Joselito Canete, a neighbor, arrived. He was alleged to be drunk.

He then challenged Lucerna's friend to a fistfight but Lucerna succeeded in discouraging the two men from fighting.

At around 12:30 midnight, just as Lucerna was about to go home, Ompad, Canete's cousin, together with two others, and stabbed him once in the right portion of his body.

Lucerna died a few hours after he was taken to the Mandaue City Hospital.

After learning about the Lucerna's death, Ompad re-emerged and surrendered himself to Serna.

Police also arrested yesterday morning Ompad's two other brothers after they were positively identified by witnesses.

Jerome is now joined by his brothers John Vincent Ompad,20, and Ruben Ompad,18, at the detention cell of the Mandaue City police station1.