LEGAZPI CITY — A journalist was stabbed to death on Sunday morning by someone he refused to play basketball with at the covered court in Daraga town in Albay province, police said.
Celso Amo, 66, a resident of Barangay Pagasa and a correspondent of the Philippine Star based in Albay, was killed by the suspect, Adam Abanez, 33, a native of Pilar town in Sorsogon province.
Senior Inspector Mayvell Gonzalez, Albay police spokesperson, said Abanez was temporarily residing in Daraga.
According to the initial police report, the victim was playing basketball at the covered court when the suspect asked to play with him at around 8:05 a.m. Amo reportedly refused, which made the suspect angry, witnesses said.
They told the police that the suspect left the basketball court but returned later with a knife and attacked the victim.
Gonzalez said Amo was taken to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH). He died while undergoing medical treatment.
Policemen immediately arrested the suspect following the incident since the Daraga police station is located just across the Daraga Covered Court.
Amo, who was a native of Ormoc City, was a retired government employee of the Philippine Information Agency in the Bicol region. He was a stringer for the Philippine News Agency and a correspondent of the Philippine Star.
He was the Editor-in-Chief of The Windows, a quarterly publication of the Legazpi City government. He also wrote for various local weekly tabloids such as Dyaryo Bikol and the Bicol Mail.
Amo, who was a widower, left a son, Chuck, and a daughter, Krestelmarie. /ee