Teen stabbed dead by drinking buddies

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

A teenager was found dead early morning of January 20, 2021 in Pavia, Iloilo.

 

Dominic Gumban, 17, of Brgy. Cabugao Norte, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, suffered at least three stab wounds – one on the neck and two on the abdomen.

Gumban’s body was found on the pavement outside the piggery owned by his aunt at Barangay Pagsanga-an, Pavia around 5AM of Wednesday.

Major Jojo Tabaloc, Pavia Police Chief, said the victim visited his aunt’s piggery like he usually did.

He then went on a drinking binge with Rodnel John dela Cruz, 18, and Romeo Celiz, 43, both residents of Barangay Lanit, Jaro, Iloilo City. The two worked at the piggery.

It remains unclear why dela Cruz and Celiz allegedly ganged up on and killed the victim.

“But we heard that Gumban acted unruly when he’s drunk. He usually picked on the workers when he’s under the influence of liquor,” Tabaloc said.

Dela Cruz and Celiz, who did not flee, initially tried to hide their involvement in the killing. They dragged Gumban’s body out of the area where the attack happened and laid him on the roadside.

“They first wanted to make a scenario by making it appear that there was another person who joined them when they had a drink. They planned to have that imaginary man as the last person seen with the victim,” Tabaloc said.

But when investigators checked the area where the drinking binge happened, they saw drops of blood indicating that Gumban may have been attacked inside the piggery.

The suspects also buried bloodstained clothes to hide the evidence from investigators.

Dela Cruz and Celiz were eventually arrested and are now detained at Pavia Police Station.