Man beaten up, stabbed to death because of a bump

MANILA, Philippines—An accidental bump triggered the killing of a 30-year-old man, who was bludgeoned with a dumbbell and then stabbed at least 20 times by an unforgiving mentally ill assailant in a Manila alley late Thursday night, police said.

Francis Paul Alarcon of Paltoc Street in Sampaloc was declared dead on arrival at the Ospital ng Sampaloc, where he was rushed by neighbors who witnessed the relentless attack on him by former casino card dealer Dionisio Jose, 58,  of Domingo Santiago Street, Barangay 576 Zone 56 in Sampaloc.

SPO2 Milbert Balinggan of the Manila Police District’s homicide section said that Jose stopped stabbing Alarcon with a knife only when one of the witnesses cried in horror over the assault. Jose then fled and the victim was rushed to the nearest hospital.

Balinggan said the incident occurred around 10 p.m. in Alley 2, Domingo Santiago Street in Sampaloc when both men, who were walking through the alley, accidentally brushed shoulders.

Apparently irked by that, Jose, who was carrying a dumbbell at the time, hit Alarcon several times in the head with the weight until he keeled over, Balinggan said, citing witnesses’ account. Jose then drew a knife and repeatedly stabbed the victim.

The case investigator pointed out that the victim would have been further brutalized had neighbors not seen the assault. Jose took advantage of the witnesses’ shock to escape, Balinggan said.

Inspector Ismael Dela Cruz, deputy chief of the MPD homicide section, told the Inquirer that the suspect’s wife disclosed that Jose had previously been confined at the National Center for Mental Health and was discharged from the facility several years ago.

Dela Cruz pointed out that minutes before the killing, Jose and his wife had a spat which apparently drove the ex-casino employee to go out of his house, bringing the dumbbell which he habitually carried around.

Dela Cruz said that Jose, now the object of a police manhunt, is considered dangerous because he is prone to violent attacks at the slightest provocation.