Three men injured in separate stabbing incidents

CEBU, Philippines – Two construction workers who tried to pacify an argument between two people ended up being injured after they were stabbed in sitio Upper Mahiga, Barangay Banilad shortly before midnight yesterday.

The victims were identified as Santiago Ramos, Jr., 31 and Gemersendo Gabato, 39, both construction workers and residents of the place, while the suspect was their neighbor, Ruel Archival, 28.

Investigation showed that the victims were drinking liquor with their friends at the frontward of the house of one Maximo Gabato when the suspect, together with a certain Tata Bonsore, happened to pass by them and stopped.

Bonsore then confronted one of the victims' friends, a certain Fredo, a resident of Barangay Pasil, which later resulted in a heated argument between the two.

This prompted Gemersendo to pacify them but the suspect, who was standing near them, suddenly struck his head with a stone. The victim slumped to the ground.

Ramos then also tried to pacify but the suspect pulled out a bladed weapon and stabbed and hit him on the chin, left side of the body and left wrist.

They were rushed to the Maximo to the Cebu City Medical Center while the suspect fled.

Meanwhile, in another incident, a man was dead on the spot after he was stabbed while attending a disco during the fiesta celebration at Barangay Taytayan, Bogo yesterday dawn.

The 12-inch long kitchen knife was stuck on the chest of the victim, Herminigildo Arcillas, 47, a resident of Sitio Baas, Barangay Dakit, Bogo. He died immediately.

Arcillas and his friends were dancing, drunk, when a still unidentified man suddenly appeared and stabbed him in the chest. He fell on the ground with the knife stuck on his chest while the suspect fled.

It was Barangay Captain Nestor Aranas who responded to the scene and called for police assistance.

SPO4 Emmanual Masong of the Bogo Police Station revealed that Arcillas always found trouble whenever he was drunk.

"Maldito ni kung maka-inom," Masong told The FREEMAN.

SPO4 Masong disclosed that several months ago, Arcillas was also stabbed by unknown men but survived despite the many wounds he sustained. "Gitabangan sad ni siya og dunggab unidentified gihapon ang suspects," he said.

Police suspects that the two incidents may have the same suspects. - Niña G. Sumacot and Ria Mae Y. Booc/JPM (FREEMAN)