PRIME SUSPECT | Police released the mugshot of Angelito Erlano, alias “Kulet,” 39, the suspect in the killing of a 22-year-old student of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas in Cavite province. —PHOTO FROM PNP PIO
MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested on Saturday the prime suspect in the killing of a 22-year-old student of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) in Cavite province, the Philippine National Police said.
Tracker teams caught 39-year-old Angelito Erlano, alias “Kulet,” at his friend’s house in Purok 4, Barangay Victoria Reyes in Dasmariñas City around 10:40 a.m.
The Cavite police said the suspect resisted arrest and attacked a responding police officer with a screwdriver, but the latter was able to block it.
By 11:50 p.m., the suspect was brought to Dasmariñas police station, while criminal complaints of robbery with homicide and direct assault upon a person in authority were being prepared against him before the local prosecutor’s office.
Erlano’s arrest came four days after he robbed and repeatedly stabbed Queen Leanne Daguinsin, a graduating computer science student, inside her dormitory room in Barangay Santa Fe, also in Dasmariñas.
Authorities placed a P1.1-million bounty for the arrest of Erlano.
Police earlier recovered a black backpack, which was allegedly owned by Daguinsin, from Erlanon’s house in Barangay San Nicolas 2.
Daguinsin, a native of Pila, Laguna, was found by the caretaker of the dormitory bloodied, without lower garments, and with a pillow on her face. An autopsy conducted on her cadaver found no indication of rape.
Erlano has allegedly been involved in previous robberies and was arrested in April last year for a robbery case. It was not immediately known how he was able to get out of jail.
In a statement on Saturday, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. commended the Calabarzon regional police and the Cavite provincial police for the “relentless operations conducted which led to the arrest of the suspect.”
The PNP chief also thanked the public for cooperating with the authorities and providing information that led to Erlano’s arrest.
In an official statement on Wednesday, DLSU-D president Bro. Francisco “Sockie” de la Rosa VI, FSC, said the school was working closely with Daguinsin’s family and the authorities in bringing justice for the victim.
The DLSU-D was also coordinating with the local government of Dasmariñas to tighten security measures including heightened police visibility and inspections in dormitories near the campus.
In the coming weeks, safety marshals from the school will be deployed to the vicinity of private dormitories and other establishments frequented by DLSU-D students.
The Dasmariñas police, meanwhile, set up police checkpoints within the city and coordinated with barangay officials to deploy additional patrollers for heightened security.