THE suspect in a fatal rumble between two groups more than a month ago outside a bar along Upper Session Road in Baguio City surrendered to agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Cordillera.
Tomasito Tinambacan Alfaro, 22, a native of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Loreto town in Surigao del Norte, surrendered to clear his name after the fatal March 25 melee in front of the Wheels Grill Bar where 25-year-old construction worker Raymart Sanchez Torres, 25, was killed and female student Restlee Agsaoay Maglaya, 23, and Torres' older brother Fernando, 28, a construction worker, were stabbed.
Alfaro has been working as a machine operator in Baguio City prior to his surrender.
Baguio police, who had not initially identified Alfaro, said the rumble occurred minutes before midnight of March 25, after the Torres brothers and two other companions -- Rolly Solis Lalata and Jeff Mislang Santos -- fought with the group of Alfaro after an earlier heated exchange between the two groups inside the bar.
Although Maglaya tried to pacify the Torres brothers, Lalata and Santos, and the other group, a brawl reportedly ensued outside the bar.
The younger Torres sustained multiple stab wounds on the upper part of his body and was declared dead an hour after the brawl, while Maglaya also suffered stab wounds on her left thigh. The older Torres bore
stab wounds on the right side of his body and stomach.
Alfaro and a still unnamed companion fled after the melee, said police.
A review of the closed circuit television camera footage showed that Alfaro, who only stands 4 feet and 11 inches, was pinned down by at least five assailants much taller and bigger than him, including the Torres brothers.
Alfaro reportedly told the NBI-Cordillera that he wanted to give up earlier but not to policemen because of an apparent distrust he had developed when he was earlier mauled after he was caught for vagrancy.
He decided to turn himself in after a very close relative told the NBI about the suspect's willingness to clear his name before the Regional Trial Court branch III, which has ordered for his arrest.
Together with his mother Alona, Alfaro showed up to the office of the NBI-Cordillera Saturday morning, May 5. (Ace Alegre)