• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
A 32-year-old construction worker was stabbed to death by three unidentified suspects while he was gambling online at Barangay Tagukon Public Market in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, at around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Police identified the victim as JR Almaril, a married man and a resident of Purok Tugas in the village.
Based on the initial investigation by the Kabankalan Component City Police Station, according to the account of the victim’s wife, Almaril was playing online gambling, locally known as “scatter” on his cellular phone. Suddenly the three unidentified male persons attacked the victim without any provocation.
As a result, Almaril sustained multiple stab wounds in different parts of his body and was rushed to the Lorenzo Zayco District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Kabankalan CPS Deputy Commander PCapt. Sammy Gasataya said that they are still waiting for the results of the post-mortem, while persons of interest have already been identified.
As to the possible motive of the crime, Gasataya stressed that they are looking for different angles, including personal grudges, citing that the investigation of the case is still underway.
The incident was reported late since the scene of the crime happened in a mountainous area, which was about 30 kilometers away from the city proper.
The cadaver was brought to the funeral parlor and is subject to postmortem examination.*
