Man stabbed dead over firecracker blasts

A laborer stabbed dead his neighbor after he got annoyed by the firecracker blasts outside his residence Saturday night in Caloocan City.

Victim Reynaldo Balatbat, 58, of 437 Josefina street, Barangay 119 on 3rd Avenue, succumbed to multiple stab wounds in the body, police said.

Police prober PO2 Michael Viray said that at around 9:45 p.m., Balatbat was blasting firecrackers outside the house of his neighbor, identified only as Greg.

Irritated by the noise, the suspect reportedly told the victim to stop blasting the firecrackers.

But instead of heeding the suspect’s advice, Balatbat continued toying with the firecrackers, which prompted the suspect to confront him.

The confrontation turned bloody when the suspect stabbed the victim with a knife.

Bystanders rushed the victim to the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital but died along the way.

A police manhunt is now being conducted against the suspect. –Pete Laude