Caloocan street fight: One killed, another critically hurt

MANILA, Philippines - A construction worker died while his companion was critically wounded when attacked by at least four other laborers while in a drinking bout past midnight yesterday in Caloocan City.

PO3 Percival Baldemoro, Caloocan City police station investigator, identified the fatality as Norman Dapitan, a laborer employed by Citiwide Construction Co. in Golden Dale Subdivision, Malabon City. Dapitan’s friend, Larry Alaban, 38, is still confined in a hospital due to stab wounds in the face and body.

Baldemoro said that Dapitan and Alaban were having a drinking spree at UEAMI automotive barracks on Tirad Pass corner Evangelista streets in Barangay 137, Caloocan City when at least four drunk men turned up at around 12:30 a.m. Gil Nacario, 46, and his brother Mark, both residents of Cubao, Quezon City, approached Dapitan and confronted him about an earlier misunderstanding.

A fistfight ensued between Dapitan and Nacario when the latter punched the victim in the face. The four suspects ganged up on Dapitan and took turns in stabbing him. Dapitan died on the spot from his wounds. Alaban, who tried to pacify the scuffle, was reportedly assaulted and stabbed by Mark. He was brought to a hospital for treatment.

The suspects escaped after the incident but follow-up operations conducted by the Caloocan City police resulted in the arrest of Nacario at his house in Malabon City. Mark and the two other unidentified suspects remain at large and are being sought by the police. Charges were set to be filed yesterday against the suspects.      – Pete Laude