15-year-old boy dies after being stabbed 13 times

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 15-year-old boy died of multiple stab wounds following a fight between two groups of young men on the evening of December 12 in Dueñas, Iloilo.

The victim, identified only by the alias Dam, was a Grade 10 student from Barangay Tahing, Calinog, Iloilo.

He sustained at least 13 stab wounds on various parts of his body.

Reports said Dam was with four friends to watch the opening of lights ceremony in Dueñas town.

After the fireworks display at around 10 p.m., the group decided to go home.

While passing through the public market, they allegedly saw a certain alias “Tomtom”, 18, of Barangay San Isidro, accompanied by two companions.

Due to a previous misunderstanding, Dam and his group decided to leave immediately.

Corporal Reginald Lawague, investigator at the Dueñas police station, said the group boarded their motorcycle, but the suspects followed them.

Later, the group stopped for Dam to relieve himself.

That was when Tomtom and his friends approached the victim.

Upon seeing the confrontation, Dam’s friends fled in different directions.

Tomtom, and a certain “Christian”, 15, of Barangay Poblacion B, reportedly ganged up on Dam and stabbed him multiple times.

The suspects fled aboard a motorcycle driven by another companion, alias “Bulldog”, 17, of Barangay Capuling.

Dam was rushed to Don Valerio Palmares Sr. District Hospital in Passi City, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Tomtom was arrested at his residence at around 9:30 a.m. the following day, while Christian and Bulldog later surrendered to authorities.

Lawague said old grudges may have triggered the incident as the two groups reportedly figured in a commotion during a fiesta celebration in September 2025.