Police identified the victim as Noel Carungay, 36, a manager of a Starbucks Coffee outlet and resident of the SNC Apartelle in Barangay Poblacion.
Suspect Desiderio Transmil, of Caloocan City, was arrested shortly after he allegedly killed Carungay.
The Makati Police Department (MPD) said the murder was discovered after noise was heard coming from the third floor of the apartment building, which sent tenant Regius Damucus rushing to Carungay’s unit.
Damucus, who is also a Starbucks employee, said he forced open the locked door. Inside, he saw a wooden closet that was on fire so grabbed a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze.
Later, he saw Carungay’s body sprawled on the floor.
The suspect, who surrendered to police, admitted killing Carungay, whom he accused of forcing him to perform sexual acts.
Senior Inspector Gary Reyes, chief of the MPD Homicide Division, said murder charges will be lodged against the suspect.
"We are still looking at filing attempted arson or arson charges. We are not sure if it can stand as a separate case since the attempt to burn down the unit was intended to conceal evidence of a crime and could therefore be considered part of the murder," he said. – Michael Punongbayan