Suspect in stabbing incident in Sta. Ana, Manila arrested

The suspect in the  Wednesday stabbing of a man in Sta. Ana, Manila has been arrested. 

According to a report by Katrina Son on Unang Balita on Friday, the suspect identified as Elmer Salinas, 57, was nabbed during a follow-up operation of authorities on Thursday night.

Chief Inspector Rommel Anicete of the Manila Police District Homicide division said Salinas and the victim knew each other.

"Magkakilala ito [suspect and victim], according naman 'to sa asawa ng naulila. Actually pati nga itong asawa ng naulila is kakilala rin [nila]. Kaya hindi tayo nahirapan na ipa-identify kung sino 'yung nandoon sa CCTV at kung sino itong nahuli namin," he said.

Carol Torres, Salinas' wife, said the suspect and the victim were drinking the night the incident happened.

"Birthday daw no'n ngayon nag-iinuman. Napikon siguro sa biruan nila. Umalis tapos pagbalik may dala nang kitchen knife," Torres said.

The suspect said he and the victim were both under the influence of alcohol while playing cara y cruz when he got mad at the victim for refusing to pay him the P50 he won.

"Nagsusugalan lang kami, nagka-kara cruz kami. Eh 'yung sa (inaudible) namin, hindi nagkakaintindihan ba... 'yun nga sa may pustahan ganu'n nangyari tapos nagkapikunan na kami," Salinas said.

"Wala na, e blangko na 'ko nun, e. Lasing na ako nu'n, e. Nakainom ako nu'n kaya ayun dire-diretso na," he added.

The suspect said it was not his intention to kill the victim.

"Hindi, wala akong intensyon nu'n. Lasing ako, e. Nagkainitan na, e. Napuruhan ko siguro," he said.

Salinas then apologized.

"'Yun nga. Sorry na lang. 'Yun na lang. Sorry," the suspect said.

A witness who chose to remain anonymous said they were not able to stop the suspect, afraid he might turn on them instead.

"Akala ko nu'ng una sapakan lang. Nagulat na lang ako 'yun pala ano [panaksak] na pala 'yung hawak ng suspek," the witness said.

It took three minutes before a barangay kagawad was able to subdue the suspect. The victim was brought to the hospital but died later, the report said.

Police said Salinas will face murder charges. They will also conduct further investigation.

"Murder ang isasampa nating reklamo dito sa suspek natin," Anicete said.

"We are conducting investigation pa as to kung anong pagkatao nitong suspect natin," he added. —Akari Nakano/KG/KVD, GMA News