KITAOTAO, Bukidnon — A 42-year-old man was fatally stabbed while watering his horse in a remote village in Kitaotao town, Bukidnon, on Tuesday morning, in a violent attack that has shocked the local community.
Police said the incident occurred at around 9:30 a.m. in Purok 3, Barangay Balocbocan. The victim was attending to his horse when a 30-year-old suspect suddenly appeared and stabbed him multiple times without warning.
The Kitaotao Municipal Police Station (MPS) received the report through a phone call from a barangay kagawad, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement officers. Upon arrival, police found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds in different parts of his body.
The victim was rushed to the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag, but attending physicians later declared him dead.
Initial police investigation revealed no immediate confrontation prior to the attack, raising questions about the motive behind the stabbing. Authorities have not yet released the identities of both the victim and the suspect pending further investigation.
As of this writing, the suspect remains at large. The Kitaotao MPS has launched a hot pursuit operation to arrest the fleeing suspect, who is now facing a homicide charge.
The Bukidnon Provincial Police Director has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and directed local police units to exhaust all efforts to ensure the immediate arrest of the suspect and the swift resolution of the case.
Police urged residents with information related to the incident or the whereabouts of the suspect to immediately coordinate with the nearest police station.