Singing out of tune kills one, hurts 1

A 54-year-old laborer was killed while another was seriously wounded in a melee reportedly triggered by a joke about someone’s out-of-tune singing at dawn yesterday in Navotas.

Alejandro Monsales of Tecson street, Barangay Bangkulasi, Navotas, succumbed to a single stab wound in the chest while Jesus Romanca, 24, a stay-in worker of Pertual Garments, NHA Building 2, also in Bangkulasi, is now fighting for his life at the Tondo Medical Center.

Investigation showed that Saturday night, Monsales group and that of Romanca were having separate drinking sessions in the NHA Building 2 in Barangay Bangkulasi.

The drinking spree went on until about 4:30 a.m. yesterday and when everybody was already drunk, Monsales’ nephew, identified only as Mulok, kept singing on a karaoke.

But he reportedly got irked when Romanca’s group taunted him over his out-of-tune singing.

Mulok confronted the other group and a heated argument ensued, resulting in a free for all.

Monsales reportedly tried to pacify the warring groups but was stabbed in the chest, killing him instantly.

When the rumble ended, Romanca also had a stab wound in the right side of the body.

Police said Romanca could not identify his assailant but Jeffrey, son of Monsales, told police that his father was attacked by three suspects identified as Rogelio Siapo, 29, a Rolando Romana, 21, and Marvin Espino, 26, all workers of Perpetual Garments. Police immediately arrested the suspects who are now locked up in the Navotas police station cell. – Pete Laude