Witness says stabbing victim provoked Manio

MANILA—Former child actor Jiro Manio was charged with frustrated homicide Saturday after he allegedly stabbed a man in Marikina City.

According to a police report, Zeus Doctolero, 25, was on his way to a friend's house when he was attacked by Manio, 27, at a park in Barangay Roque. Then, Manio allegedly took out a knife and stabbed Doctolero three times.

Doctolero was taken to a hospital after he sustained stab wounds in his head and back, police said.

However, a witness said Manio was not the instigator.

According to Remi Perez, Doctolero appeared to hit Manio for no reason at all.

"Bigla na lang niyang (Doctolero) hinampas ng helmet 'yung nakasalubong niyang lalaki, [na] 'yun pala si Jiro. Tapos nagpang-abot sila, [at] nagsuntukan na po sila no'n," Perez said.

Perez added that after he and his parents separated the two, Doctolero chased Manio again.

"Akala namin tapos na. Paalis na si Jiro, dumudugo na nga ilong ni Jiro. Pag-alis ni Jiro, hinabol siya ng lalaki, hinampas ng helmet sa likuran ng ulo. Sumubsob si Jiro. Pinapalo siya ng lalaki," Perez said.

He said Manio picked up a spoon and ran after Doctolero.

"Pagpasok ko ng carinderia, du'n ko na nalaman na si Jiro 'yung napapaaway. Sabi ko kay Jiro, 'Tol, baba mo na 'yan.' Binigay sa'kin ni Jiro. Kutsara talaga 'yun, hindi kutsilyo," Perez said.

Perez said witnesses were not familiar with Doctolero, whom the witness alleged was drunk at the time.

Doctolero did not give a statement.

According to Manio's live-in partner, Karen Macalino, they are looking at suing Doctolero.

Manio is known for his role in the 2003 movie "Magnifico," for which he received a number of awards as best child actor.

He was also praised for his work in movies "Anak" and "Ang Tanging Ina."

In 2017, Manio was reported to have left a rehabilitation center, two years after he was seen roaming around the country's international airport in Manila.

• Jiro Manio, lumabas na sa rehab

— With a report from Arra Perez, ABS-CBN News