GMA 7 worker killed as man runs amuck

MANILA, Philippines -  A radio coordinator of GMA 7 television network was stabbed dead and two others were hurt while they were trying to pacify a drunk neighbor who had run amuck in Caloocan City Saturday night.

Edwin Ramos, 47, a resident of Barangay 12 in Dagat-Dagatan, died at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRMMC) while being treated for a stab wound in the stomach.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, Caloocan City police station investigation chief, said at around 8 p.m., the victim went out of his house to calm down his drunken neighbor, Cezar Baguio.

But Baguio, armed with two knives, stabbed Ramos instead of heeding him. He also attacked two other neighbors, Marvin Sauza and Emelita Rios, Soriano said.

Benjie Morales, Ramos’ brother-in-law, said Sauza remains in critical condition at the Tondo General Hospital while Rios suffered a superficial wound in the back.

“Baguio was having a drinking bout on the other side of the street when he got into trouble with his drinking buddies, for reasons we don’t know,” Morales told The STAR.

Baguio went home and came out armed with two knives. He started chasing everyone in sight, acted “like he no longer recognized anyone and went on a stabbing spree,” Morales said.

Morales said they first brought Ramos to the Tondo General Hospital, but because “it lacked facilities” they transferred the victim to JRMMC. According to other reports, Tondo General refused to treat Ramos.

Baguio went into hiding after the incident and remains at large. His family also left their house Saturday night, police said.

Senior Superintendent Jude Santos, Caloocan City police chief, said he has formed two tracker teams to hunt down the suspect, who hails from Masbate province.