THE suspect responsible for stabbing a habal-habal driver (motorcycle-for-rent) last Saturday morning, February 8, 2025, along Natalio Bacalso Street, Barangay Kinasang-an, Cebu City, has been arrested by the Inayawan police station in coordination with the Dalaguete police station.
The incident was captured on video by motorists passing the area.
The arrested individual was identified as Jack Daguplo Villacorta, 35, from Villa Cacao, Barangay Kinasang-an, Cebu City, but originally from Barangay Bogo, Cagayan de Oro City.
He was seen in the video repeatedly stabbing Alfred Casurra Pareja, 33, from Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, who suffered multiple injuries.
During the investigation conducted by the Inayawan police station after the incident, they reviewed the video that spread on social media.
With the help of the public, they were able to identify the suspect and immediately launched a manhunt operation.
In the afternoon, a tip was received that Villacorta had fled to his relative’s house in Barangay Mananggal, Dalaguete town in southern Cebu.
Authorities immediately proceeded to the area, working with the local police.
At 3:20 a.m. on Sunday, February 9, they apprehended the suspect and brought him to the Inayawan police station.
In an interview with DyHP, Villacorta denied being the one who attacked the victim, contrary to initial reports.
Villacorta stated that the victim, Pareja, attacked him first without reason using a tire wrench.
He explained that he was passing by when Pareja mocked him, which led to a confrontation.
Villacorta claimed that he tried to stab Pareja with a screwdriver but was disarmed.
"Kanang iyang gipangbunal nako, ako nang gipangdawat sir. Gibunalan ko niya'g wrench nga puthaw, igo akong kamot, akong ulo, ug lawas. Iyaha man sad to gikan ang screw driver dayon iya man ko gibunalan, mao to ako siyang gidumog nya natumba man siya, mao to ako siyang giyak-an," Villacorte said.
(I accepted the blows from the wrench that struck my hand, head, and body. He had the screwdriver, and he hit me. That’s when I tried to overpower him, and he fell, so I pinned him down.)
He also expressed a desire to undergo a medical examination to prove that he was not lying and that he had bruises on his body.
Villacorta further explained that he left early that Saturday morning to go to Carbon Market to buy food for his carenderia (small eatery) near the Carbon police station.
However, as he passed by the habal-habal driver, he was mocked, which led him to return and question the driver. He was suddenly attacked with the tire wrench on his head and hand.
A case of frustrated homicide will be filed against Villacorta by the Inayawan police station. (AYB)