BAGUIO CITY – A 40-year old barangay kagawad died while a 22-year old Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) member was hurt after they were successively stabbed by a lone knife-wielding individual at the O-shaped overpass along Abanao St. around 10:45 pm Wednesday.
Police authorities identified the fatality as Victor Dimayo Solomon, 40, a businessman and barangay kagawad of Kayang Hilltop and a resident of Hilltop, Baguio City, while his injured companion was named as Junior Mendoza, 22, a BPAT member of Kayang Hilltop and a resident of Pidawan, Loakan, Baguio City.
Initial police investigation showed Solomon, Mendoza and a 19-year old waitress were walking on the O-shaped overpass en route to the night market when a still unidentified male person sporting a black jacket shouted at them.
Mendoza then went to the area where the male suspect was positioned to check on whether or not there was a problem in the area but his companions were surprised to see him running back to where they were originally situated holding on to his chest with blood oozing from it and with the suspect chasing him.
When Solomon tried to inquire on what prompted the suspect to stab Mendoza, the knife-wielding suspect suddenly stabbed him several times in the different parts of his body in front of the helpless waitress and immediately fled towards an undisclosed direction.
Responding police operatives and concerned citizens immediately rushed the wounded victims to the Baguio General and Medical Center (BGHMC) for medical treatment but Solomon expired while undergoing medical treatment due to multiple fatal stab wounds on the different parts of his body while Mendoza is still undergoing close medical supervision as he is still in critical condition due to a stab wound on his chest.
Probers are still clueless on the motive behind the stabbing incident right at the heart of the city and they are now conducting a followup investigation on the latest killing in the city.
By Dexter A. See
