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Criminology graduate who was chasing a cellphone thief was mobbed, killed
A 26-year-old criminology graduate was fatally beaten and stabbed after allegedly being wrongly accused of stealing a cellphone in Barangay 718, Manila.
According to a "24 Oras" report by Joseph Morong, the victim was chasing the person who snatched his cellphone but since he was mistaken for a thief. The residents in the area cornered then attacked him.
A video of the incident shows residents mobbing the victim with some individuals wielding wooden sticks.
In a closer shot, the victim — Christian Ambon — was nearly lifeless, shirtless, with a stab wound on his side, hands tied and brutally beaten.
Ambon, who recently arrived in Manila from Samar to look for a job, was rushed to the hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries early this morning.
The victim's mother, Bonifacia Ambon, is devastated by what happened to her son, especially since he was wrongly accused.
(My son would never do that. Even though we are poor, he would never resort to stealing.)
Before passing away, the victim told his mother he was the one who had been robbed in the alley where he lived.
He chased the thief and he was stabbed.
The victim said he knew the suspect by the alias "Junjun."
“Hinablutan siya ni Junjun, tapos sinugod nya sa taas, nung pumunta sya sa taas, sumigaw yung babae, magnanakaw, magnanakaw. Yun pala sinaksak na siya ni Junjun,” said the mother.
“Ang sabi po ng taumbayan itapon na daw ‘yan sa ilog daw po, ‘yung kapitan daw po yung nagsabi nyan,” she added.
This, however, was denied by the barangay captain, Mark Delfin.
Moreover, according to the barangay, they do not know anyone named "Junjun."
They also claimed that Ambon was the first to stab someone during the incident.
“Papasok na sila ng bahay nila. Naglabas ng kutsilyo at akma na aambahan yung kasama niya. Tapos umatras. Hindi na ngayon alam ng kasama niya kung saan siya pumunta nagulat na lang na nagkagulo dito sa may portion ng likod. Pagbagsak dun sir, nagsigaw dun inakyatan niya ng "Magnanakaw!" Akala kasi nila magnanakaw. Hindi naman siya ginulpi ng taong-bayan kung hindi siya nanaksak,” said Delfin.
(They were about to enter their house when Ambon suddenly pulled out a knife and appeared to threaten his companion. Then, he stepped back. His companion lost sight of him, and moments later, chaos erupted at the back portion of the area. When he collapsed, he shouted 'Thief!' People thought he was the thief. The crowd didn't beat him up for no reason — he stabbed someone first.)
Ambon was charged with trespassing and frustrated murder.
Meanwhile, the victim's family plans to file a complaint against the person who stole his cellphone and those who beat him up. The homicide division of the Manila Police District has visited the area to investigate the conflicting accounts of the incident.
The family hopes to take the victim's remains to Samar but said they lack financial means. — Sherylin Untalan/BAP, GMA Integrated News
