MANILA, Philippines—A junkshop helper died of stab wounds when he tried to stop three men from disrupting his first son’s baptismal party on Sunday afternoon in Payatas, Quezon City, a police investigator said.
Senior Police Officer 1 Jaime Jimena of the Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit identified the fatality as Marlou Martirez, 26. Also hurt was Sulpicio Roco, 29, one of the three armed men who allegedly gate-crashed the victim’s party at his house on Golden Shower St. in Group 1, Area B, Payatas B, Quezon City.
Jimena said that based on the statement of Martirez’s wife, the victim had been saving for the baptismal party of his firstborn.
“He really got upset over the disruption because he prepared hard for the event, but the three men, who were uninvited and armed with shotguns, ruined it for him and everything led to a brawl and stabbing that caused his death,” Jimena said.
Witnesses also told police that Roco, his brother Estacio and cousin Artemio de Guzman barged into the victim’s house and punched one of the guests that led to a melee.
During the commotion, Estacio pulled out a knife and stabbed Martirez, hitting him on the chest.
But before Martirez was stabbed, he managed to wrestle a shot-gun from Roco and shot him in the face, police said.
He added that Estacio and De Guzman escaped from the scene and were at large, as of Tuesday.