THE Pardo Police Station has two persons of interest in the stabbing to death of an 18-year-old student who fought back against his muggers in Barangay Poblacion, Pardo on Tuesday evening, March 11, 2020.

The victim was identified as James Daniel Espinosa of San Roque, Mambaling who succumbed to multiple stab wounds.

Police Major John Kareen Escober, the Pardo Police Station chief, said the victim was with his 17-year-old girlfriend in the place, which had a reputation for being a dating area for young couples, when he was assaulted by a group of attackers.

Escober described the two persons of interests as known toughies in the neighborhood but do not have any derogatory record.

“They are both from Poblacion Pardo also but we won’t divulge the name yet because we are still conducting follow up operations,” Escober said in Cebuano.

Though robbery is one of the motives, Escober said they are not discounting the possibility of a love triangle since the girlfriend wasn’t hurt in the incident.

They have yet to get a statement from the girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Office Acting Chief Police Col. Engelbert Soriano said they have coordinated with Pardo barangay officials since they think the officials are familiar with the two persons of interest. He has also augmented the Pardo Police Station to help them monitor areas with high crime volume and to help solve the case in the shortest time possible.

“We have coordinated with the barangay captain and we have deployed personnel to the station. What we need is the participation of the elected officials since I’m sure they know the people behind this,” said Soriano.

Meanwhile, the police also responded to a shooting alarm at 10 p.m. on March 10 in Barangay Tisa. Edgar Asis Egdamin, 39, of Barangay Quiot was shot by two unidentified assailants in the interior portion of Rocky Hills in Barangay Tisa.

Soriano said they are trying to find out if Egdamin was involved in illegal drugs. In just one night, three people were killed in Cebu City, two by shooting. Both shooting incidents are believed to be drug-related. (AYB, ML)