Suspect in Ateneo student's robbery-slay nabbed

Suspect alias “Diablo” arrested by Marikina PNP. | via @kevinmanalo_ pic.twitter.com/LDFxY5MQOw

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) December 5, 2018

MANILA - (UPDATE) A man tagged in the robbery and killing of a 24-year-old Ateneo graduate student has been arrested, the Marikina police said Wednesday.

Alias "Diablo," who allegedly took the phone and killed student Francis de Leon, was arrested this morning at a checkpoint in Marikina, police said.

A witness, who did not reveal his face, said he knows Diablo being a fellow thief. He said Diablo contacted him Friday evening to look for victims in Barangay Concepcion Uno.

After the incident, Diablo allegedly tried to sell him De Leon’s cellphone, but he declined. The witness said he realized "Diablo" was the culprit a day after a photo of the victim became viral online.

The suspect is also allegedly related to De Leon. The witness went to police and informed them of Diablo’s plan to do more robberies in Marikina Heights.

The suspect, meanwhile, denied the allegations, saying he was in another place when the crime took place.

"Totoo po wanted po kami sa robbery. Di ko po alam kung sila gumawa nun at ako dinidiin nila," he said.

Metro Manila police chief, Director Guillermo Eleazar said the police also arrested a 16-year-old who allegedly connived with Diablo.

The minor was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development while Diablo will be charged with murder and robbery.

--reports from Henry Atuelan and Kevin Manalo, ABS-CBN News