Butcher stabs to death younger brother over cellphone charger

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A fight over a mobile phone charger sparked a violent confrontation between brothers evening of September 19, 2021 at their home in Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The fight ended in the death of 25-year-old Pio Jay Jabatan and the incarceration of his older brother, Elbrig Jabatan.

Police reports said that the 30-year-old Elbrig, a butcher, arrived home around 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

He immediately looked for his mobile charger and later confronted his brother.

The two engaged in a verbal tussle after Pio Jay claimed that he owned the charger that Elbrig was claiming as his.

It was at that juncture that Elbrig pulled a knife and stabbed Pio Jay’s chest.

“Maybe, the victim didn’t see it coming. That’s why he wasn’t able to defend himself,” Major Jose Mark Anthony Gesulga, Mandurriao police chief said.

Pio Jay was immediately taken to Western Visayas Medical Center but died immediately.

Elbrig was placed under citizen’s arrest by their relatives and turned over to the police.

The suspect kept his silence amid empty stares while being held at the police station.

Their mother claimed that she was used to her sons’ arguments but did not expect that it would end in violence.

She claimed that it didn’t sit well with Elbrig whenever Pio talked back at him.

Pio was reviewing for the radio technologist board examination before his death.

The family has yet to decide if they would pursue the filing of the case against the suspect.