Medical student stabbed to death in Sta. Rosa, Laguna apartment

A medical student was killed and is believed to have been robbed in his apartment in Sta. Rosa, Laguna over the weekend.

 

According to a report on "24 Oras Weekend" aired Sunday night, Paolo Miguel Catalla, 27, the nephew of Consul General to Hong Kong Bernardita Catalla, had been stabbed 10 times.

 

Police have arrested Francis Bartolazo, 19, in a follow-up operation, but he has denied involvement in the killing.

 

According to investigators, Catalla met someone on Thursday and was not heard from again, prompting friends to alert authorities.

 

"Pagkatapos po nila magkita noong Huwebes, noong Friday ng ... the whole Friday, hindi na na-kontak itong victim," Supt. Reynaldo Maclang, Sta. Rosa police chief said."

 

Bartolazo said he and Catalla did not see each other on Thursday.

 

"Wednesday... Iyon po, may usapan po kami na parang gigimik po kami... Iyon po. That night din po na may usapan din po kami na... Tinanong po niya ako kung doon po ako matutulog sa apartment. And sabi ko, okay, sige po. Pumayag naman po ako," he said.

 

But security camera footage showed Catalla leaving his apartment on Thrusday night at around 9 p.m. and returning at 10 p.m. with a man carrying a backpack.

 

The man, whom police believe is Bartolazo, left early Friday morning.

 

"Noong magkasama sila sa apartment nito, wala nang nangyaring iba pa na pumasok doon... Siya lang ang lumabas na nag-iisa, itong suspek natin na si Francis," Maclang said.

 

The victim's friends say money that he withdrew on Thursday is missing, as are his gadgets.

 

Bartolazo faces a Robbery with Homicide charge. — JDS, GMA News