Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police commander, said the 40-year-old Ricky Pempengco sustained two stab wounds in the chest that caused his instantaneous death.
Cruz said the incident happened at about 11:30 p.m. on A. Bonifacio Street in Barangay Laram.
Relatives of the victim identified the suspect as Angel Capili who fled after the incident.
Supt. John Kerby Kraft, San Pedro police chief, said the suspect is now subject of a provincewide manhunt.
Cruz said initial investigation showed that Pempengco and Capili had a brief argument in front of the store after the former bumped and pushed the latter.
After that incident, Capili allegedly went home and several minutes appeared again in front of the store armed with an icepick. Without a word he allegedly approached Pempengco and stabbed him twice.
Kraft said Capili was under the influence of liquor during the time of the incident and investigators are also verifying if Pempengco has been drinking.
Reacting to the incident through her Twitter account, Charice expressed sorrow over the death of her father even as she slammed some of her relatives’ reactions regarding her relationship with her father.
Charice became an international singing sensation after appearing in big-time television shows and concerts.
With the death of her father, Charice apologized to her fans in Singapore for canceling her appearance there for the David Foster and Friends concert.
“I am very sorry to all my fans from Singapore. I am not going to be there to be part of the David Foster and Friends concert. I have to go back to the Philippines as soon as possible to be with my family. I hope you all understand. I love you all and I will see you next year,” Charice said in her Twitter account.
The following are some of Charice’s feelings regarding the death of her father:
“Matagal akong naging tahimik sa mga eskandalong ginagawa ninyo. Pero ngayon, [hin]di ko na kaya pati sa pagkamatay niya GANYAN PA RIN KAYO. Hindi ako takot. Lalo na sa mga taong walang respeto.
“Sino kayo para sabihing masaya ako sa pagkawala ng SARILI KONG AMA? Kapatid lang kayo at ako ay ANAK.
“Hindi pinagbawal ni Mommy na dalawin ang Daddy namin pero HINDI NYO KAMI PINAYAGAN. Wala kayong respeto sa PAMILYA NIYA para sabihin nyo yan ngayon! Imbis na ayusin nyo, sinisira nyo pa!
“Hindi ko alam na nagpaparamdam na pala siya.
“Gusto ko lang malaman nyo, na we had a really great relationship bago nangyari lahat ng gulo. Sinabi niya sa akin nung ako’y bata pa na hindi actually alam ni Mommy, gusto niya akong maging sundalo kasi sabi niya matapang daw ako. I loved him and I will still love him. He’s still my Dad after all.”
(With Rene Acosta)
