A 34-year-old Lebanese national survived a mauling and stabbing attack yesterday dawn in sitio Tagaytay, barangay Vito, in Minglanilla town, southern Cebu.
Esmiel Yusef sustained six stab wounds in the arms and body after he was stabbed by Aldrin Talaid.
Yusef is recuperating at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
Police said the victim was celebrating the barangay’s fiesta and was having a drinking session with a certain Melver Sellon.
However at 2:15 a.m. yesterday, a witness saw Talaid chase and corner Yusef in the area.
The witness also told police that Talaid punched the Lebanese several times, at first, but then Talaid pulled out a knife and stabbed Yusef several times. Talaid fled after the attack.
Police said Yusef came to the Philippines after he married a Filipina in Cebu. However, his wife left for Lebanon to work there. Yusef failed to accompany her to Lebanon after he claimed to have lost his passport.
Police are still conducting follow-up operations to arrest Talaid.
They are also looking into a personal grudge as the motive of the attack. /With Intern Roselle Quirimit