Man denies stabbing beauty queen

MANILA, Philippines - A man accused of stabbing Miss Earth 2008 Karla Paula Henry at a condominium in Mandaluyong City Thursday denied attacking the beauty queen.

Jherome Quibuyen, 29, a native of Tarlac, said he does not know the victim. He said he has been staying at the unit of his cousin, Ferdie Valdez, at the California Garden Square Condominium for the past two months.

Quibuyen said he had been drinking at the time Henry was attacked.

Henry had parked her car and was walking to her unit at the Anaheim Tower 3 of the condominium when she was stabbed in the back on the stairway at about 5:45 a.m.

Security guards Gerry Husi and Jesus Ubaldo rushed Henry to the Victor Potenciano Medical Center. She was later transferred to the St. Luke’s Hospital in Taguig City.

On their way to the hospital, Henry said the suspect was wearing a purple t-shirt, prompting Husi and Ubaldo to arrest Quibuyen upon their return.

However, a closed-circuit television camera installed at the condominium failed to record the stabbing. The CCTV footage showed Quibuyen walking aimlessly in the area where Henry was stabbed.

Police filed frustrated homicide charges against Quibuyen, who is being held at the detention center of the Mandaluyong City police.