Seven residents of a compound in Barangay Maysilo, Malabon City, were arrested on Friday after allegedly conspiring in a violent attack that resulted in the death of a 22-year-old resident.
According to the progress report submitted to Malabon City Police Chief PCOL Jay Baybayan, the incident occurred around 4:30 AM on Friday, leading to the death of Cristan Jay Sevilla and the hospitalization of Vincent Delfin.
Joey Rose Sevilla, the victim’s older sister, explained that her brother went to Jacobe Compound with his friend, Vincent Delfin, to resolve a misunderstanding with the opposing group.
"Christian should have been the one in the middle. My brother went there to mediate between the two groups that had a disagreement," Sevilla said in Filipino.
The older sister added that around 10:00 PM on Thursday, two groups of teenagers from Sitio Rosal and Jacobe Compound were involved in a conflict.
"However, when they entered the Jacobe compound, they let Christian and Vincent in, and it was there that the two were stabbed and beaten."
Sevilla also clarified that her younger brother had no enemies in their area and had not mentioned any issues or problems in the neighborhood.
Upon seeing her brother’s lifeless body, Joey Rose said she saw multiple stab wounds on her brother’s body, bruises, and severe bleeding from his head.
"It's just so sad because, in one or two months, he was supposed to be picked up to look for work in the Middle East, and then this happened,” the older Sevilla continued.
Police Captain Roger Perez, commander of the Panghulo Substation, said that the medical report showed the victim sustained multiple stab wounds and head injuries, which led to his death.
Among the recovered murder weapons from the crime scene were a 20-inch-long bolo knife and a steel pipe.
"The suspects were all found within the compound; however, some of them hid, with a few hiding in the ceiling, bathroom, and water tanks,” Perez said.
The arrested suspects were identified as John Paul, 32; Ryan, 34; Emilio, 42; Arjhay, 18; Jojo, 41; Rosalyn, 40; and Mark Jhovan, 22.
They underwent inquest proceedings on Saturday.
Sevilla stated that their family will actively pursue the appropriate charges against the seven arrested individuals.
The suspects, currently in the custody of the Malabon City Police, will face murder and frustrated murder charges, as one of the victims continues his recovery in a public hospital.