A vegetable vendor was stabbed by a man who suddenly grabbed her while she was attending to her vegetable stand at the Tabada public market in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City shortly before noon on Monday.
Lyneth Enjambre, 30, a resident of the said place, suffered stab wounds in her left armpit and left side of her abdomen. She was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) for treatment.
SPO2 Ruth Violango of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office identified the suspect as Louie Bontowal, 35, of barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City.
According to Maricel Bolo, owner of a nearby meat stall, the suspect took her knife before walking towards Enjambre’s stall.
Bolo shouted and warned the people that the suspect took her knife.
Bolo said the suspect grabbed the victim and threatened the people around that he will kill her if anybody approached them.
Maria Merlinda Escabas, the victim’s live-in partner, said the suspect grabbed Enjambre by the neck to force her to go with him to the other side of the road.
Escabas said they do not know the suspect and have an idea why he attacked the victim.
Senior Insp. Regino Maramag said jealousy could have been the motive as Bontowal reportedly has a crush on Escabas.
Bystanders came to help Enjambre and mauled the suspect, who was later picked up by policemen from the Mobile Patrol Group.