BAGUIO – A 27-year old embalmer died while his 20-year old brother was injured after they were reportedly mauled and stabbed by still undetermined number of assailants along MRR Queen of Peace Road around 10:30 pm Wednesday.
Police authorities identified the fatality as Erwin Lagwatan, 27, single, an embalmer of the La Paz funeral homes and a native of Rosario, La Union, while his injured brother was named as Hubert David Lagwatan, 20 and a resident of Calcalan, Pinsao Proper, Baguio City.
Initial police investigation showed the duo, together with their cousin Edmond Lagwatan, were walking along MRR Queen of Peace Road after having a drinking session in one of the establishments nearby when the latter decided to buy something in an open sari-sari store allowing them to continue walking alone the road.
When he came out from the store, he was surprised to see a commotion going on near the barangay hall with the brothers sprawled bloodied on the pavement while those responsible for the crime were fleeing towards different directions.
Erwin and Hubert were immediately rushed by their cousin and concerned residents to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) for medical treatment but Erwin was pronounced dead on arrival due to multiple stab wounds on the different parts of his body while Hubert was declared out of danger considering that he only sustained wounds on his face as a result of the incident.
Probers are set to examine the close-circuit television of the barangay and nearby establishments to ascertain where they were able to capture the mauling and stabbing incident that would lead to the identification of those responsible for the commission of the crime.
Edmond informed police investigators that he was not able to identify the suspects because they already fled towards different directions as soon as he came out from the store and saw his cousins sprawled on the pavement.
The local police is calling on possible witnesses to the incident to surface and help in the identification of the suspects for them to be appropriately charged and answer for the crime they committed.
By Dexter A. See