MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON — A 20-year-old man died after he was allegedly punched and stabbed by his 28-year-old neighbor following a confrontation in Zone 1, Barangay Kalasungay, Malaybalay City, on the evening of August 30, 2026.
The victim, identified as Glory, a resident of the area, was reportedly buying food near a bakeshop and sari-sari store at around 7:25 p.m. when the suspect, identified as Jason, also a resident of the same neighborhood, arrived allegedly intoxicated.
According to the police report, the confrontation began when the suspect suddenly punched the victim and then stabbed him several times, hitting him in the back and left arm. The attack left the victim seriously injured and prompted bystanders and responders to seek immediate medical assistance.
The victim was rushed to Bethel Hospital by a rescue team from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO). Despite efforts to save his life, he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
The Malaybalay City Police Station (CPS), with assistance from Barangay Public Safety Officers (BPSOs), immediately launched a hot pursuit operation following the stabbing. Police tracked down the suspect and arrested him at his residence.
The suspect’s mother also turned over to authorities the knife allegedly used in the stabbing. The weapon was taken into police custody as part of the evidence in the ongoing investigation.
During an interview with the XFM News team, the suspect claimed that the victim had repeatedly given him what he perceived as a strange or hostile look whenever the victim passed by the place where they worked.
“Lain ang iyang tinan-awan sa akoa, mura ba’g iya kung kaunon,” the suspect reportedly said, describing the way he believed the victim looked at him.
The suspect further claimed that the incident was preceded by an argument after he allegedly felt insulted by the victim. He said the confrontation escalated, eventually leading him to stab his neighbor.
Police have not indicated that the victim’s alleged looks or the claimed insult constituted justification for the attack. The suspect’s statements remain allegations that will have to be evaluated as part of the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.
The suspect remains under the custody of the Malaybalay CPS while authorities prepare the appropriate criminal complaint against him. The police investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation, the sequence of events, and the circumstances that led to the fatal stabbing.
The incident has left a neighborhood resident dead and another facing criminal proceedings after what authorities described as a confrontation between two neighbors escalated into deadly violence.