A tragic start to the New Year unfolded in Cebu City as a market porter was brutally killed in an early morning stabbing. The incident has left a family in mourning and police scrambling for answers.
New Year's Eve Gathering Turns Deadly
Jose Magdadaro Jr., a 54-year-old porter working at Carbon Public Market, was celebrating the incoming year with a friend. According to his wife, Nerry, she last saw her husband at around 9:00 PM on December 31, 2025. He was drinking with a companion known by the alias Melchor in Sityo Dagat, Barangay Ermita.
The celebration took a dark turn just after midnight. At precisely 12:01 AM on January 1, 2026, Magdadaro was attacked on Magallanes Street in Barangay Ermita. An unidentified suspect stabbed him, inflicting a fatal wound.
A Wife's Horrific Discovery
The first news of the tragedy came to Nerry in the early hours of New Year's Day. Police officers from the Carbon Police Station arrived at her home before dawn to deliver the devastating news. They informed her that her husband had been found dead, with a stab wound to the chest.
Shocked and distraught, Nerry rushed to the scene. What she found was a heartbreaking sight. Her husband was lying in a pool of his own blood, having already succumbed to his injuries. The Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) team responded and later confirmed the presence of a large, fatal wound on the left side of the victim's chest.
Manhunt for a Person of Interest
The investigation has quickly zeroed in on the victim's last known companion. The Carbon Police Station has identified Melchor, the man who was drinking with Magdadaro, as the primary person of interest in the case.
Authorities are actively searching for Melchor to obtain his statement. They aim to piece together the events that transpired during their drinking session before the fatal stabbing occurred. The motive behind the attack remains unclear as the investigation continues.
The family of Jose Magdadaro Jr. is now seeking justice for the beloved porter, whose life was violently cut short at the very beginning of the new year. The community in Carbon Public Market and Barangay Ermita has been shaken by this act of violence.
