A MAN has been charged with frustrated murder after stabbing a mall employee in Bajada, Davao City, at around 8 p.m. on January 27, 2025.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Police Captain Hazel Tuazon revealed that the suspect, identified as alias James, of legal age, voluntarily surrendered.
According to Tuazon, James, a resident of Panabo City and a bagger at a major mall in Bajada, is now in police custody.
Police reports revealed that the victim was leaving the employees' entrance of the mall when the suspect noticed him. Without any provocation, the suspect stabbed the victim but the latter managed to block the attack, sustaining only a shoulder injury. The victim quickly ran back inside the mall where concerned citizens rushed him to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), as police searched for the suspect.
Unable to bear the pressure, the suspect surrendered at the police station around 2 a.m. on January 28, accompanied by his girlfriend, who also works with the victim, and his mother.
Authorities brought the suspect to SPMC, where the victim positively identified him as the assailant.
Further investigation revealed that James bore a grudge against the victim and had previously issued threats through Messenger.
The reason for the suspect’s anger reportedly stemmed from a game of "rock-paper-scissors" (bato-bato-pick) played by his girlfriend and her co-workers. The game involved flicking the forehead of the loser, and the suspect became enraged when the victim flicked his girlfriend’s forehead.
“Gipriso na nato ang suspek kay mi-surrender dayon kinsa positibo nga giila sa biktima diin kasong frustrated murder ang ipasaka nato nga kaso sa suspek (We detained the suspect since he surrendered immediately and was positively identified by the victim. The suspect will be facing frustrated murder charges),” Tuazon said. JPC/JARN