Teased as tamawo, man stabs fellow pedicab driver to death

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

When does teasing go too far?

A 53-year-old man stabbed to death his fellow pedicab driver late afternoon of Nov. 9, 2019 in Molo, Iloilo City.

Police identified the suspect as Melvin Caserial, 53, of Barangay South Fundidor, Molo.

He allegedly killed his neighbor, 44-year old Allan Jimena, in a knife attack around 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

The suspect flared up after Jimena repeatedly called him “tamawo.”

Tamawo is a mythological creature believed to be handsome, having very fair to white skin with fangs and claws of gold. It is believed to be clad in gold and wears putong and bahag like the nobles of pre-colonial Visayas.

Fed up, Caserial drew a knife and stabbed the victim four times.

Jimena sustained three stab wounds on the chest and one on the abdomen. He was rushed to The Medical City but died shortly later.

The suspect was subsequently arrested and yielded a 9-inch knife.

He admitted to have stabbed the victim and initially claimed he did not regret what he did.

Caserial is now detained at the lock-up cell of Iloilo City Police Station 4 pending the filing of charges against him.