1 dead in Las Piñas choirboy duel

For defending a female friend, a college student was stabbed dead yesterday morning by his choirmate, who supposedly made the rude remark in Las Pinas City.

Police identified the victim as Ricardo Berana, 22, of Satima Compound, Talon II, Las Pinas.

He sustained a stab wound on the right side of his body and died while undergoing treatment at the Perpetual Help Center.

Suspect Norberto Basisita, 22, fled but was later arrested by responding barangay tanods. Basisita, who sustained wounds on his hand after he and Berana grappled for a butcher knife, was brought to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for treatment.

Basisita and Berana reportedly belonged to the same church choir but the suspect is believed to have been a drug user, said case investigator Senior Police Officer 2 Rogelio Bato of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

Initial investigation showed the incident happened at around 12:50 a.m. at the Satima Compound.

Berana and Basisita were having a drinking session when the latter reportedly made a remark about their female friend, which prompted the victim to defend her, Bato said.

This reportedly irked Basisita and a heated argument and a fist fight between the two ensued.

A witness told investigators that he saw the suspect stab Berana with a knife.

Police are set to file a homicide case against Berana.

Meanwhile, an Army captain died in his sleep yesterday after a drinking session with his house caretaker in Las Pinas City.

Police identified the victim as Abraham Salcedo, assigned at the Southern Command in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.

Caretaker Reynaldo Abenis, 33, found Salcedo lifeless in his bedroom.

Investigation showed that Salcedo and Abenis had a four-hour drinking session the night before at the victim’s house on Campupot street, Doña Manuela Subdivision, Pamplona I, according to case investigator Senior Police Officer 2 Rogelio Bato of the CID.

Quoting Abenis, Bato said the victim ate a bowl of noodles shortly after their drinking session then went to sleep.

At around 4 a.m., Abenis tried to wake Salcedo up so that they could get ready for an early appointment. Instead, Abenis discovered the army captain’s cold body.

Abenis immediately called for police assistance, and along with responding investigators. rushed Salcedo to the Las Pinas District Hospital.

The Army man, however, was pronounced dead on arrival.