Man preying on prostitutes nabbed for Manila motel murder

MANILA, Philippines—A man allegedly preying on female prostitutes was arrested for the death of one of his supposed victims inside a motel in Manila, police said Wednesday.

The suspect, 28-year-old Joseph Labrador, was seen at a bus terminal in Sta. Cruz around 11 p.m. Tuesday by his previous victim, a sex worker who claimed to have been “picked up” by Labrador two months ago, case investigator Senior Police Officer 3 Glenzor Vallejo of Manila Police District-Homicide section said.

“He was recognized by his surviving victim when she saw him and immediately complained to police,” Vallejo said.

Labrador was also positively identified by the checker of Carport Inn where victim Shiela Halili was found dead inside the comfort room last Sunday, he said.

The checker accompanied Halili and Labrador to their room when they checked in.

Halili was said to have been hit with a rock in the head.

Labrador was in “complete denial” of the killing.

Vallejo said further investigation was underway to determine if Labrador had been involved in similar cases before involving sex workers.

“It turns out his victims were pick-up girls,” Vallejo said.