Pablo Hernandez, 41, a resident of Valenzuela City and a veteran writer of Bulgar, sustained two stab wounds in the body. He was taken to the Capitol Medical Center, where he remains under observation.
The suspect, identified as Joel Reduca, 34, of Barangay Pinagtipunan, General Trias, Cavite, was nabbed after the stabbing.
Reports from Central Police District (CPD) Station 2 in Baler said the incident happened inside the SidePocket billiard hall located on Quezon Avenue at around 4 a.m.
Hernandez was playing pool with friends when he received a phone call, which turned out to be the cue for Reduca to kill him.
It was while he was talking to the mystery caller that Reduca approached him from behind and stabbed him twice with a knife.
The suspect tried to make a quick escape, but bystanders and responding policemen cornered him.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted that he was hired by someone to kill the columnist for P20,000.
On orders of CPD director Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan, a special team of officers was sent to General Trias in Cavite.
CPD-DIID chief James Brillantes identified the mastermind in the slay attempt as SPO4 Antinulos alias "Ampog" assigned at the PNP Maritime Group in Navotas.
Brillantes said last night that they failed to apprehend Antinulos at his residence in General Trias. – Michael Punongbayan