Tricycle driver arrested for allegedly stabbing neighbor in Navotas over 20 years ago

A 47-year old tricycle driver was arrested in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran, Navotas City for allegedly stabbing to death his neighbor while they were drinking more than two decades ago.

Police Captain Gregorio Cueto of the Navotas City Police Station said Wednesday that the suspect, who was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant, is among the four individuals accused in the killing. 

“Iyong isa po, patay na. Pero iyong dalawa po, tinutugis pa po natin sa kasalukuyan,” he said.

(One is dead, while we’re still on the hunt for the two remaining suspects.)

Cueto said the victim is notorious in the barangay for running amok and causing trouble when drunk.

This, he noted, could have driven the suspects into committing the crime.

“Kaya siguro noong nagkaroon ng pagtitipon, nagkaroon ng inuman, nagkaroon na po ng pagtatalo hanggang sa dumating na po, nauwi sa pagsasaksak sa biktima,” Cueto added.

(Maybe that’s why when there was gathering, a drinking session, a fight broke out and resulted in the stabbing of the victim.)

The suspect, according to Cueto, went into hiding for more than 23 years.

“Nagpalipat-lipat po siya sa ibang lugar. Akala niya hindi na tuloy iyong pagsampa ng kaso laban sa kaniya,” he said.

(He moved from one place to another. He thought the case against him will no longer push through.)

The suspect said he can barely remember the incident, arguing he didn’t witness the crime in the first place.

He said he only ran away along with the others due to fear and shock when he heard of the stabbing incident.

But the suspect maintained that he had nothing to do with it.

“Panatag naman sarili ko eh kasi hindi ko naman ginawa. Ang [ginawa ko] nga lang, sumama ako sa takbuhan sa sobrang takot,” he recalled.

(I’m at peace with myself because I didn’t do it. The only thing I did was run away from the area because I got so scared.)

The suspect, who is detained at the Navotas City Police Station, is facing a complaint for murder. — BAP, GMA Integrated News