By Glazyl M. Jopson 3573q
BACOLOD CITY – An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) and a farmer were killed in separate stabbing incidents in Negros Occidental on Sunday.
In Sipalay City, 31-year-old “Ariel,” an OFW who returned home a month ago, was allegedly stabbed dead by an electrician following a drunken misunderstanding in Purok Purong, Barangay Nabulao.
Police Lt. Cipriano Lumanog III, deputy chief of Sipalay City Police Station, said Ariel and the suspect, 40-year-old “Chard,” were drinking at separate tables when a heated argument erupted.
The altercation reportedly began when Ariel allegedly disrespected one of the suspect’s companions while approaching their table.
The two men were pacified, and the suspect left with his group.
Minutes later, the suspect returned to check if everything had settled, but Ariel allegedly pushed him, prompting the suspect to grab a knife and stab him in the stomach before fleeing on foot.
Ariel sustained two stab wounds and was declared dead at a hospital.
The suspect was later arrested at a friend’s house in Barangay Nabulao, though police failed to recover the murder weapon.
Homicide charges were filed Monday against the suspect.
Lumanog noted that initial witness s mistakenly identified another person, but further investigation confirmed Chard’s involvement.
In Cauayan town, 44-year-old farmer “Anel” was stabbed dead in what police said was a revenge attack in Sitio Batakon, Purok 5, Barangay Masaling.
Police Lt. Col. Lowell Garinganao, Cauayan Municipal Police Station chief, said the victim was on his way to a basketball court when he was spotted by 44-year-old suspect “Harry,” also a farmer.
Seeing the suspect armed with a bladed weapon, Anel ran toward a nearby sugarcane field.
The suspect chased him down and allegedly stabbed him twice in the back.
Harry later surrendered to police and was charged with murder on Tuesday.
Garinganao said the motive was revenge for an earlier stabbing incident two years ago, in which Anel’s child allegedly injured the suspect.
He added, however, that no official police record of that incident exists.
