15-year-old boy stabbed in attack led by 13-year-old schoolmate

MANILA, Philippines—A 15-year-old high school student on Monday night was stabbed and wounded in an attack led by a 13-year-old schoolmate on a street in Makati City.

Police identified the victim as Leonel dela Cruz, 15, a high school student of the General Pio Del Pilar National High School in Makati City.

The student was taken to the Ospital ng Makati after sustaining stab wounds in the back and in the abdomen. One of the two suspected attackers, his schoolmate in the General Pio Del Pilar National High School, was arrested by the barangay’s watchmen immediately after the stabbing.

Inspector Gerardo Dino, station officer at a police precinct in Barangay Olympia, said in a report that the attack happened at the corner of Hipodromo and Economia Streets in Barangay Olympia, Makati City, around 8 p.m. on Monday.

De la Cruz was with his eight friends then, walking leisurely along the street when his younger schoolmate and another boy called “Edong” appeared in front of them.

Without being provoked, the two ganged up on the victim and stabbed him using a bladed weapon in the back and abdomen.

The two quickly scampered away but the 13-year-old boy was collared by barangay watchmen doing the rounds in the area.

His companion managed to flee.

The Makati police were baffled about the motive of the two boys in attacking the victim. The arrested boy was turned over to the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Investigators of the Makati police said the parents of the victim were reluctant to press charges against the arrested teenager, because of his young age.

Dela Cruz, who remained confined at the hospital, has been declared out of danger.