Construction worker, who tried to stab drinking buddy, gets killed instead in Cebu City

Police examine the crime scene where a construction worker was allegedly stabbed to death by his drinking buddy in Barangay Adlaon, Cebu City, Wednesday night, August 23,2023. | Contributed photo via Paul Lauro

CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 56-year-old construction worker tried to kill his colleague and drinking buddy Wednesday night, August 23.

But Benjamin Eñigo Kangke was the one who ended up dead after he failed to hit Joseph Lauriat Udtohan with a knife.

According to Patrolman Rondel Padilla, desk officer of the Adloan Police Community Precinct, Udtohan, 42, managed to retaliate by hitting Kangke with a steel pipe. He later on took Kangke’s knife and used this to stab him on the chest which caused his immediate death.

The incident happened at around 9 p.m. in their bunkhouse in Sitio Tagaytay in the mountain barangay of Adlaon in Cebu City.

But it was only reported to the police at 10 a.m. the next day, Thursday, August 24, when other construction workers saw Kangke’s lifeless body.

Padilla said that Udtohan left Kangke at the bunkhouse and went home to his family in Sitio Hagnum, Barangay Lusaran in Cebu City.

Kangke is from Sitio Buhing Tubig in Barangay Buanoy, Balamban town.

Both men are stay-in workers at a construction site in Barangay Adlaon.

Drinking liquor

Quoting the outcome of their initial investigation, Padilla said that Kangke was drinking liquor with Udtohan at the bunkhouse Wednesday night.

At around 9 p.m., Kangke reportedly offered another drink to Udtohan but the latter already refused to take the drink.

Angered, Kangke allegedly tried to stab Udtohan with a knife, but he missed. Udtohan found a steel bar which he used to hit Kangke on the head.

Kangke sustained lacerations on the right side of his head, the police report showed.

Self-defense

With Kangke already injured, Udtohan reportedly took the knife that he was holding and used this to stab the construction worker, hitting him on the left side of his chest, which caused his immediate death.

Kangke’s family already claimed his body from the funeral parlor on Thursday, Padilla said.

During their investigation, Padilla said that Udtohan claimed that he killed Kangke in self-defense.

He surrendered to Barangay Captain Agustin Partolan at the Lusaran Barangay Hall on Thursday.

Udtohan is now detained at the Adlaon Police Community Precinct while they prepare for the filing of a homicide charge against him.

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