Ring tone drives man to stabbing

MANILA, Philippines - A man who left a drinking session with his friends over a mobile phone ring tone he found disagreeable attacked a man who was laughing as he was passing by in Pasay City shortly before midnight Thursday. 

Joseph Latorre, 42, reportedly felt insulted by the ring tone, described as “gay,” of his friend’s mobile phone, which caused their friends to laugh, said Senior Superintendent Joel Doria, city police chief.

Latorre walked out, a bottle of brandy in hand. As he was walking along Rodriguez Extension in Barangay 144, he passed a group of people laughing loudly.

He reportedly smashed the half-empty bottle on the head of Noli Escalante, an air-conditioning technician and resident of the same barangay.

Latorre repeatedly stabbed Escalante, 45, in the back with the broken bottle. Responding police officers arrested Latorre and rushed Escalante to a nearby hospital, Doria said.