Bakeshop owner killed by baker

MANILA, Philippines - A drunk bakeshop owner was stabbed dead by one of his bakers during a scuffle in the bakeshop in Sta. Cruz, Manila yesterday morning.

Antonio Magpantay, owner of Lunar Bakery on Maria Clara street, died of multiple stab wounds in the shop while baker Dante Casuno, 22, was arrested by barangay watchmen who reportedly beat him up when they caught him as he was trying to escape.

Police officers are searching for three other bakeshop workers to shed light on the incident.

Casuno told The STAR he killed his boss to defend himself “because he tried to stab me first.”

The suspect said Magpantay usually came home drunk and would scold everyone in the house, including his family. 

“Last night, he came home late and he tried to hurt me. I was alone downstairs and he berated me. When I saw him holding a bolo, I tried to run but he cornered me so I was forced to defend myself,” Casuno said.

The suspect, who stands below five feet, said Magpantay was able to pin him down but “I was able to grab a knife and stab him several times to free myself.”

Magpantay’s family admitted that the victim was drunk when the incident happened “but he was unable to fight because there were four of them,” referring to the three other workers who went missing. 

However, Casuno denied that he and his coworkers ganged up on Magpantay. He said when his co-workers learned that he killed their employer, they ran away because they were afraid of the family’s reprisal.

Senior Police Officer 3 Milbert Balinggan said Casuno was charged with murder.