Brawl erupts over bus fare

A bus driver was stabbed to death during a bloody brawl that erupted inside a passenger bus over a bus fare in Quezon City Monday. At least five persons were wounded in the incident, police said.

The fatality was identified as Randy Royo, 29 , an employee of King of Kings bus line and a resident of Pabaya Compound, Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches. He died at the Bernardino Hospital while receiving treatment.

The bus conductor, Anthony Basiha of Phase I, Package 4 , Block 69 , Lot 1 in Bagong Silang, suffered severe wounds and was taken to the Chinese General Hospital.

Police said the suspect was identified as Roppie Fiel, a butcher and a resident of Jupji street in Zabang, Novaliches. Also injured, Fiel is now confined at the Quezon City General Hospital.

The brawl occurred inside a Baclaran bound bus as it approached the corner of Quirino Highway and Blas Roque Street in Barangay Sauyo, Novaliches.

Investigation revealed Fiel and three friends boarded the bus but refused to pay the fare, arguing that Royo was trying to overcharge them.

Royo allegedly berated the four passengers after they exited the bus and were about to board a passenger jeepney, the police said.

But a furious Fiel returned to the bus and started a brawl with Royo, according to the police. At one point, he and his friends pulled out bladed weapons and stabbed Royo and Basiha.

Both the driver and the conductor, who had weapons of their own, fought back. The incident left Fiel and his companions wounded. Police arrested Fiel but his companions were able to escape. Royo died about five hours later.

Meanwhile, a mason and a security guard of a hotel being constructed in Ermita, Manila, fought it out with a kitchen knife, resulting in the death of one and the wounding of the other.

Detective Steve Casimiro of the Western Police District Homicide Section identified the duelists as mason Radito Isip, 41, of 13 Main Road, Verdant Subdivision; and Leo Oganiloa, security guard, of Camarin, Novaliches, Quezon City.

Isip and Oganiloa were both assigned at the still being constructed Prince Hotel along Marcelino Street, at the back of the WPD headquarters.

Initial investigation showed that Oganiloa allegedly caught Isip smoking while doing his work the other night. Police said Oganiloa reprimanded Isip and reminded him that smoking inside the construction site is strictly prohibited.

Police said that Isip reportedly felt slighted by the reprimand and allegedly planned to get even with Oganiloa.

Yesterday afternoon, at about 12:10 p.m., police said Isip chanced upon Oganiloa who was then finishing his lunch at the construction site canteen.

Seeing Oganiloa, police said Isip immediately took out a kitchen knife and attacked the security guard. Isip managed to stab Oganiloa at the lower right armpit.

Though wounded, Oganiloa managed to take out the knife from his armpit and stabbed Isip also in the armpit. Isip, police said, died on the spot from the lone stab wound. Oganiloa, meanwhile, is still under observation at the Philippine General Hospital. – Mike Frialde