Friendly chess game bet turns bloody

A friendly bet turned bloody after a 40-year-old barangay official was stabbed dead by his neighbor following a wager dispute over a chess game Monday night in Caloocan City.

Victim Ricardo Bejog, a resident of 8 Peta Street in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan, sustained stab wounds in the chest and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Manila Central University Hospital by attending physicians.

Police are now hunting the suspect, identified as Alberto Barcela of 241 Banaba Alley, Peta Street, who fled after the incident.

Case investigator PO2 Jaime Basa said the stabbing occurred at about 9:30 p.m. along Miracle Street, Bagong Barrio. He said Bejog prodded the suspect to a cash bet over a game of chess between their two friends.– Matthew Estabillo