Faculty members and students of the Binalbagan Catholic College offer a prayer vigil for Tony Lazaga, who was found dead in front of his boarding house at Barangay San Pedro in Negros Occidental’s Binalbagan town yesterday, August 16, 2023. (The Patrician / Facebook photo)

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga 

A college teacher was stabbed to death in front of his boarding house at Barangay San Pedro in Negros Occidental’s Binalbagan town early yesterday morning.

Authorities identified the fatality as 51-year-old Tony Lazaga, a teacher of the Binalbagan Catholic College, and a resident of Bacolod City’s Barangay 35.

Police Lt. Glen Portunes, Binalbagan police deputy chief, said Lazaga came from a birthday party in Bacolod.

Closed-circuit television footage showed the victim passing by the school’s main gate and being followed by three individuals.

Police said Lazaga sustained 16 stab wounds all over his body.

They believe he could have been robbed as his mobile phone was missing, but other valuables, such as his wallet and his laptop, were still in his possession.

Meanwhile, a person of interest in the murder was arrested by the town police, while two others are still at-large.

An investigation is ongoing./DGB, WDJ