3 dead in stabbing spree in Batangas town

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BATANGAS CITY, Philippines —-A 20-year-old family driver and a companion went berserk, stabbing dead three family members that included an 82-year-old homeowner, his nephew and the latter’s live-in partner late Sunday evening in Ibaan, Batangas.

Chief Inspector Jose Naparato Jr., Ibaan police chief, said the victims — Armando Caringal, 82;  his nephew Vincent Salivio, 20; and Cesline Macatangay, 21, Salivio’s live-in partner — bore multiple stab wounds when they were attacked inside their home in Barangay (village) Poblacion at 10:30 p.m.

Naparato said investigation showed Niel Ashley Diama, 20, a hired stay-in driver of Caringal, earlier had a heated argument with Salivio but Caringal apparently chose to side with his nephew who was also caretaker of the household.

“Diama resented this,” said Naparato. Diama and his friend, Angelito Panganiban, allegedly plotted the killing of Salivio while on a drinking binge. Armed with two kitchen knives they initially stabbed Salivio but also stabbed Caringal and Macatangay to eliminate witnesses, investigators said.

Caringal and Macatangay were dead on the spot while Salivio died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

“Yung mga kutsilyo na ginamit naputol pinadala na sa SOCO,” (the knives used were broken and brought to Scene of Crime Operatives)

said Naparato.

He said police also learned Diama had lost in a cockfight prior to the killing.

Ibaan police arrested Diama in his parents’ house in the same village at 3:30 a.m. while Panganiban remains at large.