Rob-slay suspect nabbed after using victim’s cell phone

The suspected killer of a medical student was arrested Wednesday by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after he sent a text message to the victim’s sister using the victim’s cell phone.

Edgardo Catacutan, 22, alias Eduardo Catacutan, Batibot, Enzo and Gerry, is currently detained at the NBI jail.

NBI Director Nestor Mantaring said Catacutan had mistakenly sent a blank text message to the sister of Alexander Chua Ngo, 35, a day after he was killed last year.

The subsequent exchange of text messages between Catacutan and Ngo’s sister took place through the advise of the NBI, he added.

Witnesses also helped the NBI recover the kitchen knife used in Ngo’s killing from the drainer in the bathroom of Catacutan’s room, Mantaring said.

Police said Catacutan stole Ngo’s cell phone and valuables when the victim invited him to sleep overnight at his apartelle after meeting him in a mall. However, the apartelle’s security guard failed to identify the suspect.

Ngo’s body was found by his classmates on his bed after they went to his apartelle when he failed to answer their calls and text messages.

On May 13, a complaint of complex crime of robbery with homicide was filed in absentia against Catacutan before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. Charges were then filed against Catacutan before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 101.

On July 25, the Quezon City RTC issued a warrant of arrest against Catacutan for robbery with homicide. – Sandy Araneta