Suspects in Pasig City stabbing arrested in Northern Samar after 3 years

Two brothers accused in the fatal stabbing of a man in Pasig City in 2023 were arrested in Northern Samar after evading authorities for nearly three years, police said.

According to Emil Sumangil’s "24 Oras" report, the suspects were tracked down and apprehended in Las Navas, Northern Samar, through a tip, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Authorities said the pair had been hiding in the province, where some of their relatives live.

“Akala nila, dahil ‘tawid-dagat’ na sila, hindi na natin sila kayang tuntunin… at may intensyon din silang itago ang kanilang identity,” said Pasig City Police Chief Hendrix Mangaldan.

(They thought that because they had crossed the sea, we would no longer be able to track them… and they also intended to hide their identities.)

He added that the suspects had changed their physical appearance during their time in hiding.

Police said the victim was killed after attempting to intervene in a dispute involving the suspects in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig, in 2023.

The altercation reportedly took place in front of a mosque, where the victim served as caretaker.

“Sa kasamaang palad, itong biktima na umaawat… siya ang napagbuntungan ng init ng ulo ng mga suspect at sinaksak nila,” Mangaldan said.

(Unfortunately, the victim who was trying to pacify the situation became the target of the suspects’ anger and was stabbed.)

The stabbing incident was caught on video by a netizen shortly after it happened.

Footage showed the victim sitting on a sidewalk moments after being stabbed before he collapsed. He was later declared dead.

Authorities said CCTV footage also captured the suspects fleeing and hiding in a house with several companions shortly after the incident.

The family of the victim expressed gratitude for finally apprehending the suspects, while the suspects refused to give any statement. — Sherylin Untalan/BAP, GMA News