Bank guard arrested for stabbing 2 in Muntinlupa
MANILA, Philippines—An argument over a chair resulted in the arrest on Christmas eve of a bank security guard who was one of four men who allegedly mauled and stabbed two binge drinkers in Muntinlupa City.
Remegio Calcaña, 44, an employee of the Ultra security agency, who was assigned to the United Coconut Planters Bank branch at the Madrigal Business Park along Alabang-Zapote Road, Alabang, in Muntinlupa City, was arrested and jailed while his three other alleged cohorts escaped.
Calcaña’s co-workers at the bank—janitor Ronnel Cesar; and fellow security guards Joel Viray, 40, and Archie Rivera, 31—are the subject of a manhunt by the Muntinlupa City police.
Their alleged victims—Philip Evangelista, 36, a driver, of Alabang, Muntinlupa City; and Mark Castillo, 32, of Barangay Magsaysay, Tondo, in Manila—remain confined at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa for treatment of stab wounds in the body as well as bruises and contusions.
Chief Inspector Romanita Bulanon, Muntinlupa City police station duty officer, revealed that the shooting happened around 12 a.m., Saturday, at the Caltex convenience store in the Madrigal Business Park along Alabang-Zapote Road.
Bulanon said that before the shooting, the security guards and the janitor were engaged in a drinking spree while Cesar, Rivera and several other companions were in a similar session seated across from them along a long table.
At some point, the Muntinlupa City police station duty officer pointed out, the men argued over a chair that both groups were claiming ownership over and neither wanted to give up.
The heated argument caused a melee to erupt between the groups of drunken men until one of the security guards allegedly drew a knife, with which he stabbed Cesar and Castillo. When the victims keeled over bloodied, the three suspects fled leaving behind their companion Calcaña who was accosted and turned over to the custody of responding policemen.
The victims were taken to the nearest hospital by their companions.
The arrested security guard remains detained at the Muntinlupa City police holding cell pending the filing of charges of frustrated homicide against him before the city prosecutor’s office while his alleged cohorts are the subject of follow-up operations for their arrest.
