By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A tricycle operator was wounded after he was reportedly stabbed by another tricycle operator following an argument yesterday morning at the Reclamation area in Bacolod City.

Police identified the victim as 38-year-old Ricky Gutib, a resident of Barangay Alegria in Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Based on Gutib’s statement to Police Station 2 (PS2) investigators, around 3:00 a.m., while waiting for passengers outside a hotel in the area, he confronted an unidentified tricycle operator and told him to leave, informing the latter he was not allowed to operate in the area as it was under the control of a local association.

The suspect refused, which led to an argument, resulting in the suspect stabbing Gutib twice.

The suspect immediately fled, while Gutib was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital after sustaining stab wounds to his left shoulder and leg.

PS2 is presently trying to identify the suspect. A follow-up operation is still ongoing./DGB, WDJ