A 30-year-old construction worker was stabbed to death by his neighbor in Taytay, Rizal, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, for alleged bullying and threats.
According to Rizal Police Provincial Office (Rizal PPO) Director Col. Felipe Maraggun, the suspect, alias “Jo,” and the victim, Junjun, had an ongoing dispute due to alleged bullying.
Maraggun said that before the incident, Jo invited Junjun to his house to settle their issues but unexpectedly attacked the victim with an ice pick.
The suspect then fled the scene, while the victim was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Authorities immediately conducted a follow-up operation that resulted in the suspect's arrest. The police recovered an ice pick and another knife from the suspect.
Meanwhile, in a media interview, the suspect claims the incident was an act of self-defense.
“Parang self-defense lang po 'yung ginawa ko. Nakapatong lang po sa may cabinet po 'yung ice pick. Natulak niya po ako sa kwarto ko kasi sabi niya po P70 lang 'yung pera, sa drugs po 'yun. Magbabayad daw po ako sa kanya (What I did was an act of self-defense. The ice pick was only resting on the cabinet. He pushed me into my room because he said there was only P70, and that it was for drugs. He said I would pay him),” he said.
“Gusto ko po talaga sana pag-ayusin kami dahil kako gusto ko po humingi siya ng pasensya sa akin (I really wanted us to work things out because I wanted him to apologize to me),” the suspect added.
The suspect also admitted that his anger towards the victim caused the stabbing, adding that he was also receiving threats from him.
"Naipon na po kasi lahat ng galit ko sa kanya, kaya po 'yun lang po 'yung naging pagkakataon ko po para mailabas po lahat. Kaya nga po humihingi ako ng pasensya sa pamilya (All my anger toward him built up, and that was the only chance I had to release it. That’s why I’m asking for forgiveness from his family),” he said.
Meanwhile, the victim's partner could not accept what happened and said that the victim should not use bullying as an excuse for the killing. She also denied that her partner was a bully.
“Huwag niyang gawing dahilan 'yung pambu-bully dahil wala nang ganon. Bigyan niya ng hustisya 'yung asawa ko para lang matahimik siya. Hindi pa niya kaya mamatay, napakabata pa po niya (He shouldn't use bullying as an excuse because that's not true. He should give him justice so he can finally be at peace. He’s still too young to die),” she cried.
She also stated that the suspect had already hurt the victim twice—first when he allegedly threatened the victim with a knife and the second time when he punched the victim.
“Pinakisamahan ko 'yan, siya lang ang kikitil. Hindi niya talaga binuhay eh. Talagang-talagang tinorture niya ang asawa ko. Kunsensya mo na 'yan, uusig pa rin ang hustisya para sa asawa ko (I was with him for a long time, and now he's the one who took my husband's life. He didn't even intend to keep him alive. He really tortured my husband. Let that be on your conscience. Justice will still be served for my husband),” she added.
The suspect is now detained at the Taytay Police Custodial Facility and is facing a murder charge.