2 killed in stabbing spree in Caloocan, Valenzuela

Two people were killed and three others were wounded in two separate and senseless stabbing incidents on Thursday in Caloocan and Valenzuela cities.

In Caloocan, police identified the fatality as Pedro Managuit, of Bagong Silang, Caloocan. He sustained multiple stab wounds in the body and died while undergoing treatment at the East Avenue Medical Center. Manguit’s brother Elorde, 31, and their friends Ronald Abagan, 21, and Fortunato Pacliban, 25, were rushed to the same hospital for treatment.

Case investigator Police Officer 1 Benito Marasigan of the Caloocan City police Sub-station 3 said that the incident happened at around 9 p.m. at the Del Billiard Hall in Bagong Silang.

Quoting witnesses, Marasigan said that aside from the victims, there was another group of four unidentified men having a drinking spree at the establishment.

Two of the victims left and apparently waited for a ride home outside the billiard hall. Suddenly, the four other men followed and without warning, one of them allegedly stabbed the two victims.

The suspect, along with his friends, casually went back inside and stabbed the victims’ two other companions.

The suspect and his companions immediately fled in different directions, investigators were told.

Witnesses said they did not hear the groups argue or notice anything unusual between them that could have triggered the stabbing incident.

In Valenzuela, police said 25-year-old Ferdinand Romen, a construction worker of Candido Street, Barangay Mapulang Lupa, was stabbed dead during a rumble.

Suspect Rommel Caguiat, 29, of Barangay Karuhatan, was immediately arrested.

Inspector Salvador de la Cruz, chief of the Valenzuela Station Investigation Branch (SIB) said that the incident happened at around 11:30 p.m. along Candido Street.

De la Cruz said the victim and some of his friends were at a sari-sari store when Caguiat’s group passed by.

One of Romen’s friends reportedly gave the suspect’s group a "bad stare" that prompted a melee, De la Cruz said.

Caguiat allegedly stabbed Romen several times at the height of the rumble. The victim was rushed to the Manila Central University (MCU) hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians.

Caguiat is now detained at the Valenzuela police station’s detention cell and is facing homicide charges in the city prosecutor’s office. – Nikko Dizon