Friendship turns violent at Iloilo dance

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A drunken tricycle driver stabbed his friend and neighbor in San Miguel, Iloilo, shortly before midnight May 3.

The suspect, identified only as alias Ernesto, 55, of Barangay Santa Cruz, San Miguel, was immediately placed under citizen’s arrest and turned over to police after the incident.

According to reports, Ernesto stabbed the victim, identified only as alias Niel, 57, while they were attending a community dance in Barangay Santa Cruz around 11:55 p.m. Sunday.

The incident started when Niel’s son, Junjun, told his father that the suspect had slapped him inside the dance hall.

Niel, who was outside the hall, went to Ernesto and confronted him.

Without any physical provocation, Ernesto allegedly attacked Niel with an ice pick.

The victim was brought to Aleosan District Hospital and later referred to West Visayas State University Medical Center.

Capt. Bryan Alejo, San Miguel police chief, said Ernesto told investigators that he and Niel had no prior conflict.

Ernesto claimed he was under the influence of liquor and immediately got irked.

He allegedly justified slapping Junjun by saying the latter acted unruly inside the dance hall.

The suspect is detained pending the filing of charges against him.