Amok charged with murder for GMA 7 worker's death

MANILA, Philippines - A man who reportedly ran amuck and stabbed dead a radio coordinator of GMA 7 television network in Caloocan City Saturday night was charged with murder by the city police yesterday.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Jude Santos said the city prosecutor’s office recommended that Cezar Baguio, 25, be charged for the death of Edwin Ramos, 47, who tried to pacify him when he went into a stabbing frenzy.

Santos said Baguio, who finished his bachelor’s degree in nursing last March, was also charged with frustrated murder and attempted murder for attacking his neighbors Marvin Sauza, 37, and Emelita Rios, 54, in Barangay 12 in Dagat-Dagatan.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, city police station investigation chief, said Baguio was having a drinking bout with friends when he went amuck at around 8 p.m.

“According to witnesses, Baguio was looking for another neighbor, Eric Muñoz, who reportedly had trouble with one of his friends the night before,” Soriano said.

His drinking buddies pacified Baguio and brought him home, but he went out again, brandishing two knives and chasing his neighbors.

He first attacked Rios and wounded her in the back. Ramos tried to calm Baguio down but was stabbed by the suspect in the groin, Soriano said. Ramos was visiting his girlfriend, Susan Morales, 25, a neighbor of Baguio.

The suspect went on attacking his neighbors and critically wounded Sauza.

Ramos died while being treated at the Dr. Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center after allegedly being refused treatment at the Tondo General Hospital.

Morales said her boyfriend was given first aid at the Tondo hospital but doctors told her to transfer him to another hospital because the operating room was being used. She asked for an ambulance but was told none was available.

She said she was forced to bring Ramos to JRMMC using a motorcycle.

Sauza remains under observation at the Tondo General Hospital while Rios was released after treatment.

Baguio and his family fled shortly after the incident. According to Soriano, Baguio’s father is a seaman while his mother is a teacher.

 “We are appealing to the suspect to surrender peacefully. His continued hiding would do him no good,” Soriano said.