Police hunt down farmer for slay of soldier in Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — Police are going after a farmer who allegedly stabbed dead a soldier during a drinking spree in Calbayog City, Samar on Thursday night.

The fatality was identified as Private First Class Mark Dian Fuentes, 32, and assigned to the 19th Infantry Battalion based in Matuguinao town, also in Samar.

Reports reaching the regional office of the Philippine National Police based in Palo, Leyte, said that the victim had a drinking spree with his elder brother, Jomar; an uncle; and the suspect, Michael Cardenas, 36, at past 9 p.m. at his house in Barangay Marcatingog, Tinambacan District in Tacloban.

The victim’s brother advised him to stop drinking as he was already drunk. However, this was misconstrued by the victim. A fist fight between the two ensued.

During the commotion, the elder brother pushed the victim towards Cardenas who stabbed the soldier repeatedly hitting him on his chest, abdomen, stomach, and front hip.

The victim was immediately brought by his relatives to the St. Camillus Hospital, Calbayog City but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The  suspect fled towards an unknown direction.

/MUF