1 dead, 2 hurt in karaoke brawl

A construction worker was killed while his two colleagues were seriously injured after they were stabbed and mauled by at least 15 men inside a videoke bar early yesterday morning in Novaliches, Quezon City.

The fatality, identified only as a certain "Edison" of Malolos, Bulacan, sustained stab wounds and bruises in the body and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Quezon City General Hospital.

His colleagues, Romeo Mendoza, 29, and Jose Espiritu, 44, both residents of Calumpit, Bulacan, also suffered stab wounds and lacerations and are now in critical condition in the same hospital.

The 15 men, most of them armed with bladed weapons, fled right after the killing. Police sources said the still unidentified suspects got into a fight with the victims after an argument inside a videoke bar on Pinkian Street, Sauyo Road, Novaliches at around 12:30 a.m.

The three construction workers were at a table opposite the suspects, who were already drunk at the time.

An argument ensued as to which group would sing the next song. A struggle for the microphone then took place.

At the height of the altercation, the killers pulled out their bladed weapons and ganged up on the three victims. – Matthew Estabillo