Man slain at neighbor's wake over bad joke

MANILA, Philippines - A carpenter was stabbed dead by a neighbor, who could not take a bad joke, at another neighbor’s wake in Barangay Manresa, Quezon City yesterday.

Julio Catubay, 54, died on arrival at the National Orthopedic Center due to loss of blood from a deep cut in his left arm.

Police records show that Catubay and suspect Junior Esparto, alias “Junior Buang (crazy)” were teasing each other as they watched a card game at the wake of Nida Gaza at a chapel along Mauban street.

At around 12:30 a.m. yesterday, Esparto reportedly took offense at the ribbing he received from Catubay, drew a knife and hacked at the victim.

Catubay turned and made a dash for a dark alley even as Esparto fled in the opposite direction, taking the weapon with him.

Catubay’s wife Emelyn was informed of the incident and rushed to the scene but found her husband some 25 minutes later in the dark alley. On the way to the hospital, Catubay told his wife the name of his attacker, police said.