2 suspected robbers in Quezon City nabbed Tuesday

MANILA, Philippines—Two suspected robbers were nabbed right at home Tuesday morning in Quezon City after being tagged in the death of a gay man over the weekend.

Case investigator PO1 George Caculba named the two as Mark Anthony Polo, 22, and Ronelio Padilla, 34, both of Novaliches.

The suspects were arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of college student Jay Jalil Ibarra, 23, who was stabbed 40 times.

The victim’s knifed body was found on Saturday morning at a vacant lot on Pedro St. in TS Cruz Subdivision, Barangay San Agustin in Novaliches.

Caculba said they are hunting for a third suspect only known as Noni.

The two men were tagged in the murder after being identified by a tricycle driver.

Caculba said the primary motive of the suspects was robbery but the suspects found that the victim had no mobile phone and money with him.

The witness told police that he and the three suspects were having some drinks at a store in the area before dawn last Saturday.

Ibarra was drinking at another table with his own group of friends.

The witness recalled that Noni invited him to join them on a heist while pointing in the victim’s direction.

According to the tricycle driver, he went to the toilet for a break and saw the three suspects already befriending the victim upon coming out of the restroom.

But the witness declined to join his companions, police said.