After stabbing woman: ‘Drug-crazed’ man mauled

CEBU, Philippines - Traffic along Tabada Street, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, was interrupted for a while after a man believed to be high on drugs was beaten senseless and bloody by bystanders after he stabbed a woman yesterday morning.

The victim, Lineth Enjambre, 30, was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center after she suffered stab wounds below her left armpit and her chest.

The suspect, Louie Bontowal, 35, was brought to the Trauma Center of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, after being knocked unconscious by repeated blows and kicks he received from bystanders.

Senior Police Officer 1 Ruth Violango of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office said that based on witness accounts the victim was just selling vegetables yesterday morning when Bontowal, armed with a knife, approached and suddenly grabbed and Enjambre.

“While nagtinda sa area ang babaye, nikalit la’g abot ang suspek gikuptan, gitionan og kutsilyo, niingon pa ni ang victim nga ‘unsa may gusto nimo kuwarta?’” said Violango.

However, the suspect did not reply and just stabbed her under the armpit and chest.

Enraged bystanders rushed to the suspect after seeing the victim bleeding and took turns kicking and punching him until he was rendered unconscious on the street.

Another bystander helped slow the bleeding of the victim.  The beating of the suspect was caught on video by The FREEMAN Sports Assistant Editor Lemuel Maglinte.

A few minutes later the suspect regained consciousness and policemen and paramedics came and brought the suspect and the victim to separate hospitals.

Enjambre had to undergo surgery but is now in safe condition while the suspect’s condition was not yet known to the investigators as of press time.  Before Enjambre’s operation investigators were able to talk to her to ask if she knew the suspect but she replied she did not know him at all.

Because of this investigators believe that the suspect was high on drugs and committed the crime for no logical reason at all.

Rumors also had it that a love triangle could be behind the attack. However, bystanders in the area who knew the victim told investigators that they did not see the man before and did not believe that they were acquainted.

Investigators said they will talk to her again to determine the motive once she is in better condition. — /BRP (FREEMAN)