Army T/Sgt. Jose Germinal, of Barangay Rizal in Makati City, sustained a fatal stab wound in the body and died while receiving treatment at the V. Luna Hospital.
The unidentified suspects, one of whom was reportedly armed with a bladed weapon, fled right after the stabbing.
Residents of the area said all the suspects are known drug users but police have yet to identify the perpetrators who remain at large.
Police said the incident occurred at about 2 a.m. at the corner of 20th Avenue and Boni Serrano Street, Murphy, Quezon City.
The victim, accompanied by four colleagues, was cruising around the area on board a Daihatsu van (PFK-317) when the suspects suddenly appeared and pelted their vehicle with stones.
Germinal and his companions stopped to accost the youngsters but when he stepped out of the van, one of the suspects pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim once in the abdomen.
The Army sergeant collapsed to the ground as the suspects fled the scene. He was rushed to the hospital by his compaions where he expired at about 5:20 a.m. – Matthew Estabillo