AUTHORITIES arrested a 34-year-old butcher for stabbing to death a fellow butcher inside the New Public Market in Poblacion, Ward 1, Minglanilla, Cebu on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019.

The suspect, 34-year-old Primitivo Amaque, will be facing homicide charges. His victim was identified as 36-year-old Jeonard Laurito.

The incident happened around 7:30 a.m.

Police Master Sergeant Junyl Ater of the Minglanilla Police Station said Amaque did not flee the scene and instead waited for the police and medical responders to arrive.

“He did not escape. According to him, it was useless to hide since he knew the authorities would still go after him. He said he was willing to face the consequences of his actions,” Ater said in Cebuano.

According to Ater, a personal grudge might have provoked Amaque to stab Laurito in the stomach with a 13-inch knife.

The two had gotten in a fight a few years ago where the victim punched and threatened the suspect.

“Mao tong ganina, nag-abot sila. Unya wa guro siya kaagwanta. Mao tong iyang nadunggab. Sa una pa naay bikil sa trabaho (Maybe he was not able to contain his anger when the two of them met. That was why he stabbed Laurito. The two had had a work-related misunderstanding in the past),” he said.

Laurito was rushed to the Minglanilla District Hospital before he was transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, where he was declared dead around 10 a.m. on the same day.

Amaque is currently detained in the Minglanilla Police Station. (WBS)