A 32-year-old woman was stabbed to death by a 19-year-old man inside a hotel room on Rizal Avenue in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Sunday, Jan. 29.
The Manila Police District (MPD) identified the suspect as Naif Dumare Imam, a resident of Quiapo, Manila.
According to Cpl. Errhol Aguila, investigator on case, the victim, Marilou Lagidao Baldres, 32, of Sta. Cruz, Manila, was found dead in a hotel room around 2 a.m. on Sunday.
Based on initial police investigation, the victim agreed to check in with the suspect in the hotel in exchange for P400 but they later argued over the price.
The witness, a 23-year-old room attendant, knocked on the room after hearing the woman screaming "Huwag po kuya! Kuya tama na po! (Don't! Please stop!)"
When the suspect opened the door, the witness saw him with blood on his hands and the lifeless woman lying on the ground.
The witness reported the incident to MPD Police Station 3.
Police immediately responded to the area and arrested the suspect at 3:25 a.m. on the same day.
Aguila said the victim was stabbed 13 times with a 12-inch kitchen knife (including the handle).
The investigator said the suspect claimed the knife belonged to the victim and that he just defended himself from her attacks.
Aguila added that the suspect also sustained lacerated wounds on his arms and back.
The suspect is now under the custody of MPD Crime Investigation Section and will be charged with murder, police said.