Inquirer employee stabbed on his way home in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines—An employee of the Philippine Daily Inquirer was in critical condition after he was stabbed by three unidentified men in Caloocan City early Monday morning.

Police identified the victim as Arnel Francisco, 43, a desk person in the newspaper’s advertising department.

According to the report obtained by the Inquirer, Francisco was walking on his way home along Cleopas Street, Santa Quiteria in Barangay 162, when the incident happened around 12:30 a.m.

Police said that three men followed him and, upon reaching a dimly lit area, two of them reached out for Francisco and stabbed him repeatedly with an ice pick.

One of the suspects, the report said, acted as a lookout.

The three men took the wallet of Francisco with his company ID, SSS ID, Medicard and P1,000, according to the report.

They fled as soon as Francisco, who managed to scream for help, slumped to the ground. He was rushed to the Chinese General Hospital in Manila.

Local police officials reached by the Inquirer could not provide more details, saying they had not been informed of the case.

The Inquirer also tried to reach the investigator on case, Police Officer 2 Jerry Garces, but his phone was turned off as of press time.