Malabon thrill killer stabs 1, hurts 2 friends

MANILA, Philippines - A jobless man raring for a fight stabbed dead and seriously injured two of the former’s companions early yesterday morning in Malabon City.

Chief Inspector Realito Esperida, investigation chief, identified the slain victim as Romy Calusa, 24, of Perez street, Barangay Tonsuya.

Calusa’s companions also neighbors in Tonsuya, Louie Nabor, 20, helper and Edgardo Agbulos, 15, student, sustained stab wounds in the waist, and in the abdomen, and in the back, respectively.

Christian Lim, 30, a native of Buray, Eastern Samar and living with relatives in Paradise Village in the same barangay, was cornered after a brief chase in a maze of alleys in the village by PO2 Rommel Habig and PO2 Ismael Tabayan some two hours after the stabbing.

Records showed the victims, together with witnesses Alfredo Cruz and Cris Emmanuel, all of Tonsuya, were walking home when Lim accosted the victims and tried to pick a fight by making unsavory remarks which turned into a heated altercation.

Lim then drew an improvised bladed weapon commonly known as “tres cantos” and stabbed Calusa. Nabor and Agbulos tried to help Calusa but were also stabbed by the suspect before running away from the scene.

The witnesses sought assistance by calling the police who responded quickly. Habig and Tabayan proceeded to the house of the suspect’s cousin but failed to find him there. Just as they were about to quit, the witnesses saw the suspect and pointed him to the police officers.

Lim fled upon seeing the approaching cops and escaped.

Habig decided to go back to the suspect’s cousin’s house and there cornered the suspect hiding in a space under the house’s floor.

Lim did not offer any resistance and was handcuffed. He is now detained at the police jail awaiting filing of homicide and frustrated homicide charges before the city prosecutors office.