Student’s brutal slay shocks Baguio; PNP mum on probe

Stabbed 40 times; school execs want protection 

BAGUIO CITY – Regional police authorities have made it top priority to solve the killing of a minor male student of Pines City National High School here who was stabbed 40 times by still unidentified persons here Tuesday at 5:55 a.m. along Labsan St., the latest heinous crime in this summer capital.

Police are still mum on the probe saying they are still investigating but said the 16-year-old victim, resident of Purok 2 Sunnyside Fairview, Tacay Road was walking to school passing through a shortcut when he was attacked by assailants.

Police interviewed a witness near the crime scene who said she saw a minor wearing dark jacket with black pants and backpack who passed by and glanced at her twice before he hurriedly walked down towards the barangay hall.

Later, she heard her sister-in-law shouting a male person was dead. The witness saw the victim lying with blood oozing from different parts of his body.

Barangay officials were informed of the incident and sought assistance from authorities.

SPO2 Anthony Todyog Jr. and PO2 Marcos Sapao reportedly responded to the distress call by the barangay.

Scene of the crime operatives team led by Senior Insp. Alex Cariño also responded and found a close-circuit television owned by Barangay Labsan.

Police got the CCTV footage, studied it, but no motives or theories have been released by police as of press time.
          Meanwhile, personnel of City Emergency Management System responded and brought the victim to Baguio General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physician Haywood Fernando, who confirmed the boy suffered 40 stab wounds on his body which caused his instant death.   

At press time, the cadaver of the victim lay in state here  at La Funeraria Paz, Naguilian Road.

This, as a PCNHS official sought support from police and barangay officials in their area for protection of their students.

PCNHS Administrative officer Rowena Dumaguin said letters to the barangay and the police were being drafted following the student’s death.

Dumaguin said stress debriefing was administered to close friends of the murdered student as well as classmates close to him, but assistance might be sought with Social Welfare officials as the school has one guidance counselor.

Damaguin said students has been warned on using the shortcut which is notorious for petty crimes and is not the first time a murder was committed in the area.

This, as Grade 10 adviser Michael Aboc went to BGHMC and accompanied the victim’s family to the funeral parlor.

“Wala akong masabi sa kanya, palabiro yun, matalino yung bata,” Aboc said.

He added the victim was sometimes absent due to health conditions. “Sakitin yung bata, kaya kung mag-aabsent siya apektado ang pag-aaral niya, kaya sinabihan ko ang nanay niya na huwag ng mag-absent.”

Aboc who turned emotional said his student was a good boy, not getting himself into trouble and has a penchant to wear sweaters or jackets and always wore his eyeglasses.

Like most students, he loved playing computer games. “Magaling siyang magcompose ng mga songs at magaling siyang maggitara,” he said.

“Hahanapin namin ang pumatay sa kanya, hindi kami titigil. Yung administrative officer namin ay tumutulong at nagpapatuloy kaming mag-investigate para mahuli kung sino ang pumatay.” 

Dumaguin meanwhile described the boy to have average grades and no record for bad behavior in the school.

Dumaguin said the school is now pooling funds to help the family of the victim for funeral and burial expenses.