NBI arrests suspect in killing of movie scribe

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) presented yesterday the primary suspect in the killing of movie writer and publicist Elias Formaran, whose cell phone was traced to his alleged killer’s girlfriend.

Suspect Eric Alba, a 29-year-old waiter from San Juan, said he was forced to kill Formaran in self-defense when the latter tried to force him use shabu and have sex with him inside a townhouse in New Manila, Quezon City last week.

Alba alleged that his refusal irked Formaran, who took a kitchen knife and tried to attack him.

"He was about to attack me with a knife. I was forced to fight back," Alba said in his sworn statement given to NBI agents Arnel Dalumpines and James Tosoc.

Formaran’s body had 14 stab wounds when found inside his condominium unit last May 26. Some of his belongings, including two mobile phones — a Sony Ericsson T610 and a Nokia 3310, were missing.

Alba was presented to reporters yesterday by NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco and his brother Superintendent Edgar Wycoco, chief of the Central Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CPD-CIDG), which has been investigating the case.

Also present during the press conference were NBI-International Police (Interpol) chief lawyer Ricardo Diaz and his executive officer lawyer Claro de Castro Jr.

The NBI chief also presented Alba’s red T-shirt with bloodstains, a broken kitchen knife and the T610 cell phone, which was registered under Formaran’s name.

Wycoco said Alba was arrested at the house of his girlfriend in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday by NBI agents Dalumpines, Tosoc, Henry de Vera and Emeterio Armada IV.

The girlfriend, through her lawyer, contacted an NBI agent, who learned that Alba gave the mobile phone to his girlfriend on May 26.

The girlfriend said she did not know where the phone came from, but placed her own SIM and started using it just the same.

Last Wedenesday, she received the shock of her life after finding out that police were tracking her down for using a stolen phone.

The girl immediately sought the help of a lawyer, who referred the case to Dalumpines of the NBI-Interpol.

NBI agents coordinated with the cellular service provider and found out that the serial number of the girl’s phone matched the one registered under Formaran’s name.

Dalumpines then instructed the girl to contact Alba and ask him go to her house, where he was arrested yesterday.

Although NBI agents have circumstantial evidence to link Alba to the crime, investigators contacted Reynaldo Santiago and Froilan Flancia, the condo unit’s caretaker and Formaran’s driver, respectively, who positively identified Alba as the last person seen with the victim.

Alba denied having a relationship with Formaran. He noted that he met Formaran last April at a hotel in Quezon City, where he was working as a waiter.

Last May 25, Formaran called him up on his cell phone and invited him to his townhouse. Alba said he turned down the invitation, but Formaran was persistent so he was forced to go there 8:30 p.m.

Formaran was not around when he got there, but had left instructions with the caretaker to prepare dinner for two at around 10:30 p.m.

After Formaran arrived, they had dinner and later watched several adult movies.

Alba said Formaran wanted to have sex with him, but turned him down. Minutes later, Formaran offered him shabu, which he also refused.

It was at that point that Formaran told Alba he was wasting his time. Alba claimed that Formaran grabbed a knife and tried to attack him, forcing him to fight back and stab his host.