Man stabs drinking companion to death

CEBU, Philippines - What started as a Saturday night party ended in a bloody killing of a man who was stabbed to death by his drinking companion.

Reasons for the killing remain sketchy but suspect Rogelio Gabato, 53, voluntarily surrendered to the police through a neighbor, Felix Dacay, admitting that he killed his friend Emmanuel Alfar, 34.

The killing happened in barangay Anapog in the western town of Pinamungajan.

Gabato and Alfar started their Saturday night out with other friends at a videoke bar and sari-sari store owned by Dacay. After Dacay closed his store around 10pm, Gabato and Alfar continued drinking in another store not far away.

Dacay would later tell authorities that Gabato went to his house around 5am and woke him up, saying he wanted to surrender to the police because he stabbed Alfar two hours earlier.

Dacay then escorted Gabato to the Pinamungajan police where the latter surrendered himself and turned over the 15-inch bolo he used to stab Alfar.

Police found Alfar sprawled on the ground at the store where he and Gabato drank last. He was rushed to the Pinamungajan District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. He sustained a stab wound on his stomach.

Police suspect Gabato and Alfar figured in a heated argument, which led to the stabbing. — Niña G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)