By Ines B. Tagacay
FREDDIE BATALUNA, a furniture worker, died on the spot after he was stabbed on July 7 by a laborer who works for Tony’s Mart in barangay San Manuel.
Police authorities identified the suspect as Alexander Magbato Bado, 35 years old, married, and from Antique. The victim was a resident of barangay Tiniguiban.
Witness Gilbert Rodriguez, a close friend of the Bataluna, said that at around 12 midnight, while they were walking home from San Manuel, three men called them from a dark spot.
Thinking that his friend was acquainted with them, he let Bataluna approach them alone. Rodriguez said he was shocked to see Bado stabbing his friend with a long knife for a reason he doesn’t know. He said he ran thinking the suspect would also stab him.
It was when he was fleeing the scene of the crime that policemen who were on patrol met Rodriguez. He was brought to the City PNP Station for investigation. The suspect, on the other hand, fled after stabbing Bataluna.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Palawan pursued the case by also conducting its own investigation. After four hours, Bado surrendered.
In an interview with Palawan Times, the suspect claimed he stabbed Bataluna in an act of self-defense.
“I admit that I stabbed my enemy. I just defended myself because he was the one who stabbed me first. I did not mean to stab him, it was just really an accident,” the suspect said.
He said he scuffled with Bataluna for the knife which led to the stabbing. Bado said he doesn’t know how many times he assaulted him with the bladed weapon.
With regret, the suspect said he’s ready to suffer the consequences. “I ask for forgiveness for the family of the man I stabbed. I did not really mean to do it,” Bado said.
Authorities recovered the long knife that Bado used. According to NBI-Palawan Executive Officer Alex Cabornay, it was recovered inside a hut owned by the suspect’s friend. He added that it will be used as evidence for the murder charge they will file in court.
Authorities might also file attempted murder against Bado after three employees of the Puerto Princesa Land Transport Terminal (PPLTT) filed a complaint on July 8, accusing him and his gang of attempting to stab them too.
The complainants were Mohammad Daud, Saiben Cabile and Benjie Cumayog. Based on their testimonies, before Bataluna was stabbed, Bado tried to stab them first. They were only able to escape.
Bado denied this, claiming the three only invented the story against him and his friends. He implored on them to tell the truth and not fabricate lies.
Bataluna’s family also wants criminal charges to be filed against Bado’s friends who were identified as Rene Boy Demetrio, a minor, who goes by the alias “Raymart,” and Robert Samillano.
Apparently, an autopsy conducted on Bataluna’s body revealed that not only one suspect stabbed him. The wounds in his body further disclosed that another knife was used.
