One of the three suspects involved in the murder of a teacher in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, has been arrested by the police.
The police identified the suspect as Johnrey Castino, 19, and a resident of the said town.
In an interview with the local media, Castino identified the other suspects as Jonathan Santila and John Paolo Fernandez.
He also denied having participated in stabbing to death the victim, identified as Tony Lazaga, 51, of Barangay 35, Bacolod City, and a teacher at Binalbagan Catholic College.
The suspect pointed to Santila as the one who stabbed Lazaga to death.
He said that their main purpose was to hold up the teacher, which is why they followed him on his way to his boarding house in Barangay San Pedro of the town.
However, the victim fought back, which is why Santila stabbed him. He said he was drunk when the incident happened but denied using illegal drugs. He claimed that the mobile phone and the wallet of the victim, which contained P300, were in possession of the two other suspects.
Police Major Randy Babor, Binalbagan municipal police chief, said Castino had direct participation in the killing of the teacher.
Babor also said they have gotten hold of footage from the closed circuit television cameras in the area, showing the three suspects stopping Lazaga and possibly declaring a hold-up.
A post-mortem examination of Lazaga revealed that he sustained a total of 16 stab wounds all over his body, and his hands also show wounds, proving that he tried to fight back against his assailants.
Babor also said they have recovered a knife at the crime scene believed to have been used in the stabbing, although he stated that the suspects also used a scissor in the attack and they are now looking for it.
A background check on the suspects also revealed that they are not part of any organized robbery group, although all three are on the station's drug watchlist.
Babor said Castino will undergo drug test to determine if he is under the influence of illegal drugs.
Castino and the two suspects are facing murder charges.*