Trike driver gets 3 years for stabbing ex-girlfriend’s new lover

MANILA, Philippines—A Quezon City court has sentenced a tricycle driver for allegedly attacking his former girlfriend’s new lover inside the couple’s home over three years ago.

Assisting Judge Genie Gapas-Agbada of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 convicted Alex Santos after he chose to plead guilty to a charge lower than frustrated homicide.

Santos, then 33 at the time of the crime on Oct. 28, 2009, was sentenced to a maximum of three years, six months and 32 days in prison for serious physical injuries.

He was initially charged with frustrated homicide for stabbing Nick Buenaventura, the new boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend, Ofelia Aspiras.

The two men were also supposedly former friends and living in the same house in Barangay (village) Kaunlaran, Cubao, Quezon City, before Buenaventura entered into a relationship and shacked up with Aspiras.

Aspiras was also injured in the nighttime attack at the couple’s home in Barangay Pasong Tamo.

In a three-page decision, Agbada noted Santos’s move on Jan. 25, 2012, to enter a plea bargaining agreement so that he may plead guilty to a lower offense.

Santos initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of frustrated homicide when he was first arraigned.

“Finding the plea bargaining agreement to be not contrary to law, morals, good customs, public order and public policy, the court approved the same,” the court said.

Records showed that Aspiras, then 32 and Buenaventura, 35, also a tricycle driver, were inside their home when Santos barged in and stabbed the latter until he fell.

Aspiras sustained a slight cut in the hand and leg when she tried to pull her ex-lover away from the bloodied Buenaventura.

Santos failed to flee as angry neighbors heard the couple’s shouts for help and beat up the suspect. He was later arrested and brought to a hospital for his injuries.