Suspect in Korean man's stabbing surrenders

MANILA, Philippines - The suspect in the near-fatal stabbing of a Korean man at the Blue Wave Commercial Center along the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City last Dec. 19 has surrendered to police.

According to the Pasay City Police, suspect Froilam Escarmoso is now under their custody after surrendering to San Juan City Police Chief, Sr. Supt. Joselito Daniel at about 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Police said Escarmoso, 37, and resident of Balut, Tondo in Manila, confessed to stabbing Young Jun Lee but denied that he had an accomplice.

Young was rushed to the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay City after he was allegedly stabbed by Escarmoso, his driver.

Case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Genomar Geraldino said Young was taken to the hospital by a passing taxi driver after he was seen crossing the boulevard bleeding at about 4:50 a.m.

Young, a resident of the Solemare Parksuites condominium in Parañaque City, sustained stab wounds in the right chest and left arm. He is now in stable condition, police said.

Geraldino said a blodied 9-inch fan knife was found by police inside the victim's black Toyota Fortuner sports utility vehicle (UJQ-459).

Initial police investigation showed that before the stabbing, Young was supposed to meet his girlfriend Raquel Mateo who promised to return half of the P4.4 million in cash she allegedly took from him two weeks ago.

Geraldino said that based on the victim's account, he (Young) was waiting inside the SUV for Mateo to arrive when he told Eacarmoso that he would have her arrested if she would not appear and return his stolen money.

It was at this point that Escarmoso allegedly drew out the knife and attacked Young who managed to escape and ran away. Eacarmoso then fled on foot, police said.

Further investigation by Geraldino showed that Escarmoso is a cousin of Young's former girlfriend identified as Myra Buenaventura.

"We are looking at the angle that Escarmoso is in cahoots with Mateo and that he attacked Young after he said he would have Mateo arrested," Geraldino earlier said.