Grade 9 student stabbed by classmate inside Las Piñas school

A Grade 9 student died after being stabbed by his 14-year-old classmate inside their campus.

According to a report from the Southern Police District, the violence erupted in front of a classroom on the fourth floor of Las Piñas National High School.

Authorities stated that the confrontation escalated following a brief verbal altercation between the two young students.

"Nagkaroon sila ng heated argument then, suddenly, bumunot 'yong suspek ng (kutsilyo) at sinaksak 'yong biktima," acting Las Piñas police chief Col. Fermin Armendarez III told The Philippine STAR.

Following the attack, members of the school faculty rushed the injured 13-year-old to the Las Piñas District Hospital for medical treatment. Despite efforts, attending physicians pronounced the victim dead at 4:53 p.m.

The suspect was immediately taken into custody. Armendarez confirmed that the minor will be referred to the city's Social Welfare and Development Office in accordance with Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

While the official police report did not detail an immediate motive, investigators noted that pertinent documents and evidence are currently being prepared for the formal filing of a criminal complaint against the 14-year-old suspect.

Local police continue to probe the circumstances leading up to the fatal incident, as well as how a deadly weapon was brought into school premises.