Pedicab driver stabbed dead while pacifying fight

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

A PEDICAB driver was stabbed dead following a fracas evening of June 24, 2019 at Oton, Iloilo.

Marbert Santander, 35, of Barangay Bita, Oton, allegedly tried to pacify a fight between his fellow pedicab drivers around 10:00 in the evening at their terminal at Barangay Poblacion North.

Police Major Gervinson Moyo, Oton police chief, said Santander was asleep when suspect Dave Custodio arrived.

Custodio, 38, of Poblacion East village, allegedly tried to wake Santander up.

But Melvin Castillanes, 28, also of Poblacion East, allegedly warned Custodio against rousing up the victim.

It started a fight between Castillanes and Custodio, who first traded fists.

This awakened Santander who tried to pacify the fight.

But Custodio already pulled a knife and stabbed Santander and Castillanes

Santander was hit on the chest and died while Castillanes survived the attack. He is now confined at the Western Visayas Medical Center.

Custodio was later arrested and is now detained at the lock -up cell of Oton Police Station.

Moyo said they are investigating if there are other reasons that triggered the knife attack.