Argument over card game leaves man dead

MANILA, Philippines—An argument over a poker game resulted in the death of a 45-year-old man who was beaten up and stabbed dead by the other players Sunday morning in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Police investigators said that accusations of cheating apparently led to the killing of Edgar Fidel, a resident of Barangay (village) Greater Lagro. He was declared dead on arrival by attending doctors of Novaliches District Hospital due to head injuries and multiple stab wounds.

The police said they were looking for his attackers identified as Tuling Escalera, Ian Escalera and a certain “Bayan,” all residents of Barangay Sta. Monica in Novaliches who escaped afterward.

Based on reports from the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, the victim was playing poker with the suspects when an argument broke out between them at 1 a.m. Sunday.

Fidel left but returned with a companion after several minutes, leading to the Escaleras and Bayan hitting him on the head with a lead pipe. One of them then stabbed him repeatedly with a knife before all three suspects fled.—Jeannette I. Andrade