The Manila police is verifying reports that a man caught robbing an off-duty rookie policeman in Sta. Cruz, Manila Wednesday night is also wanted for murder.
During interrogation, Darwin Francisco, 24, admitted he was a fugitive after killing a man in Bulacan four years ago, according to Manila Police District Special Task Group (STG) head Chief Inspector Rene de Jesus. “We are coordinating with the Bulacan police office for the suspect’s criminal records,” De Jesus said.
De Jesus is also verifying whether Francisco is behind a series of robberies in the Sta. Cruz district.
Francisco, who is heavily tattooed, was arrested by STG police officers while robbing Police Officer 1 Anthony Alinio, detailed at the Headquarters Support Unit in Camp Crame. Alinio was in civilian clothes at the time of the incident and was unarmed.
Alinio said he was waiting for a ride when the suspect poked a knife at him and demanded his cell phone. He said the suspect was about to stab him when he got hold of the suspect’s hand and they grappled for possession of the knife when the STG operatives passed by.
Recovered from the suspect was a fan knife and Alinio’s cellular phone.
Superintendent Leo Francisco, chief of the MPD’s intelligence section, has directed STG police officers to intensify their patrol operations in crime-prone areas in the city. – Nestor Etolle