1 suspect in Chua slay nabbed; cops hunt 1 more

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati Police has arrested a suspect in the  fatal stabbing of fashion designer Kenneth Chua in Camarin, Caloocan City on Wednesday afternoon as it tracks down another suspect, said to be the owner of the knife.

Sr. Supt. Manuel Lukban, Makati Police chief,  said Rogelio Aquiat, a master cutter who resigned from Chua's shop last December was arrested at the home of a friend in Camarin at 3 p.m.

Lukban said they traced Aquiat to Camarin after initial investigation showed that Chua's wallet and mobile phone were missing.

Chua, 38, was found dead inside the toilet of his shop  in Barangay Palanan in Makati City  at about 11:25 a.m. on Tuesday.

Chua bore at least five stab wounds in the body, his face bruised and his neck slashed, when his body was found by his parents. Chua's hands were also tied with no signs of forced entry to his shop, said Lukban.

"That is what struck us. There was no sign of forced entry and only his wallet and phone were missing. This gave us the idea that whoever killed him was only after money," said Lukban.

Lukban added that it would also appear that Chua was tied-up to threaten him to reveal the personal identification number (PIN) of his automated teller machine (ATM) card.

According to Lukban, Chua's brother told them that the designer has an ATM account. When police checked from the bank, it was learned that Aquiat had withdrawn P20,000 from an ATM machine in Makati at about 4 a.m. on Tuesday.

"The bank gave us a printed copy of the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage taken from the ATM. it showed Aquiat withdrawing from the machine," Lukban said.

Police then showed the printed CCTV clip to Chua's relatives and they confirmed Aquiat's identity.

Lukban said he then ordered a stakeout on several areas where Aquiat could have been hiding. Lukban said it was then that Aquiat was traced to the house in Camarin.

When interviewed by police, Lukban said Aquiat revealed that prior to the incident, Aquiat and a certain Adjang were drinking. It was during that drinking session that the two hatched the plan to rob Chua.

"Aquiat still has with him a copy of the key to the victim's shop. They opened the shop's door at about 6:30 p.m. on Monday and surprised the victim inside," said Lukban.

According to Lukban, Chua was stabbed with a tactical knife when he tried to fight off his attackers.

Lukban said they are now tracking down Adjang who took with him the tactical knife after the robbery as murder and robbery charges are still being readied against Aquiat before the Makati City Prosecutor's Office.