A bakery owner in Antipolo City, Philippines, has been detained following accusations of killing seven colleagues during a birthday celebration on April 22, 2025. The suspect, Bogart Ramirez, is accused of fatally stabbing his co-workers at the J&B Malunggay Bakery, where they both worked and lived.
According to police reports, local law enforcement was alerted early Tuesday after a villager heard cries for help and contacted authorities. Officers arrived to find seven men with multiple stab wounds in pools of blood on the bakery’s locked floor.
One victim was alive when found but died from injuries while heading to the hospital. The Rizal Police Provincial Office confirmed all victims were bakery employees residing on-site.
Ramirez, 32, surrendered at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame about two hours after the discovery. “I surrendered because I have nowhere to go anyway,” he told investigators. “If I leave town, they will still catch me.”
The suspect attributed the incident to a dispute with his business partner, who was among those killed. Ramirez claimed he overheard a plot by the victims to kill him during his sleep to seize control of the bakery, asserting that most victims were relatives of his co-owner.
Ramirez stated he provided alcohol to the victims during his birthday before the attack, and admitted to using two knives to kill his impaired co-workers while they allegedly fought in the dark.
Police Colonel Felipe Maraggun, provincial police director, expressed skepticism about Ramirez’s account. He noted investigators doubted Ramirez’s claim of acting alone and were probing potential accomplices.
Authorities are examining whether the victims were sedated before the attack. A gin bottle reportedly given by Ramirez is undergoing laboratory tests for sedatives.
The investigation revealed the victims suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma. A hammer found at the scene may have been used alongside the knives.
Two minors were among the deceased employees. Authorities have not released all victims’ identities, awaiting family notifications, but confirmed the bakery owner was among the dead.
Colonel Maraggun noted it was suspicious that Ramirez was unharmed despite allegedly fighting seven individuals. Regarding Ramirez’s self-defense claim, Maraggun stated the crime scene’s anger appeared disproportionate to the alleged motive.
The suspect described his actions, claiming he overpowered the men due to their intoxication. He reported heading to the police headquarters immediately after leaving the bakery to surrender.
Law enforcement is reviewing CCTV footage near the bakery to verify Ramirez’s account and consider additional perpetrators. Post-mortem examinations of the victims aim to determine the exact causes of death and gather forensic evidence.
Local residents are shocked by the incident, which has disturbed the typically peaceful Barangay Cupang neighborhood in Antipolo City, east of Manila.
Police are conducting a comprehensive background check on Ramirez, including mental health history, as part of their investigation into what they describe as a “heinous crime.” The suspect remains in local jail custody as authorities prepare formal charges.
Investigators are examining all potential angles and motives behind the killings. Police have not dismissed other contributing factors, such as business disputes or personal conflicts among the involved parties.
The J&B Malunggay Bakery incident ranks among the most violent crimes in Antipolo City in recent years. Authorities assure the public of their thorough efforts to uncover the full circumstances of the case.
