Murder suspect arrested after victim regains consciousness

Police arrested yesterday a 53-year-old pier supervisor for killing a male subordinate over a woman’s affection.

Luis Lao almost succeeded in hiding his crime by keeping the body of his victim inside an empty container van at the container yard of North Harbor, Manila. However, the victim regained consciousness catching passersby off-guard with his moaning.

After opening the van, passersby rushed the bloodied victim, identified as Romeo Monleon, 35, to the Medical Center Manila. Monleon, however, expired while being treated for massive head injuries.

Police arrested Lao right at the crime scene after investigators noticed his strange behavior while watching the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), according to Chief Inspector Alejandro Yanquiling Jr., chief of the homicide section of the Manila Police District.

During interrogation, Lao broke down and narrated how he killed his subordinate. According to Lao, he and the victim figured in a verbal altercation over a woman they are both wooing while drinking inside the container yard of the Manila International Container Terminal in North Harbor shortly after midnight.

Lao said Monleon pulled out a fan knife while he got hold of a piece of wood. He said he was able to parry the thrust of Monleon, then successively hit him in the head with the piece of wood. Lao denied hiding the body of the victim inside an empty container van. “I just left him inside to call a doctor. I have no intention of killing him,” Lao told reporters. However, investigators are wondering why he locked the doors of the container van if he had no intention of hiding the body. “If not for the moaning of the victim, the suspect could have hidden his crime,” Yanquiling said.

Murder charges are now being prepared against the suspect.