FOUR persons, including two minors, were stabbed after a live concert in Toong Sitio Dancar, Barangay Dunggoan in the northern city of Danao, Cebu past midnight on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
James Anthony Landez Gomez, 18, was stabbed in the stomach, while Peter John Calzada Esconde, 27, was stabbed in the chest. The two minors, 16-year-old Justin and 17-year-old Ariel (not their real names), were stabbed in the stomach and in the back, respectively.
All four are neighbors in the sitio.
There were first taken to the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Danao City before they were transferred to a hospital in Cebu City.
Patrolman Jelly Canoog of the Danao City Police Station said they arrested 20-year-old Mike Benitez Cruz, also known as Pyahok, during a hot-pursuit operation in Barangay Taytay in the city at 12:05 p.m. on Saturday.
He said the suspect, who lives in Barangay Puente in the neighboring town of Carmen, was identified by the victims.
Canoog said Cruz was in the sitio with friends to attend a fiesta celebration.
During the dance, one of Cruz’s friends bumped into Gomez’s group. On their way home, the victims followed Cruz’s friends and confronted them, which resulted in a fight.
Cruz told police he was only defending himself.
“He didn’t expect Gomez and his friends would get angry over the bumping incident at the dance,” Canoog said in Cebuano.
Police are preparing appropriate charges against the suspect. (GPL / PJB)