CAVITE – The suspect in the killing of graduating student Queen Leanne Daguinsin in Dasmariñas City said he only planned to rob the victim  but ended up killing her when he accidentally stepped on her foot and woke her up on the night the crime was committed.

On April 1, Cavite Police Provincial Office (PPO) announced the arrest of Angelito L. Erlano, 39 years old.

“Dahil madilim 'yung kwarto, naapakan niya, natutulog (Because the room was dark, he stepped on her while she was sleeping),” Dasmariñas City Police Station (CPS) acting chief Lt. Col. Juan Oruga Jr. told the Manila Bulletin on Monday, April 3.

"According sa initial na salaysay niya, hindi raw niya balak saktan, balak niya ay magnakaw lang. 'Yun nga lang po ay nagising at nanlaban 'yung bata (According to his initial statement, he did not plan to hurt her, he only planned to rob her. But she awoke and fought back)."

The police recovered a laptop and a bag from Erlano.

Oruga said the P1.1-million reward money for the arrest of Erlano will be divided among concerned citizens who provided useful information to the police.

During his arrest, Erlano tried to attack the responding officer with a screwdriver. However, the operative was able to parry the attack. The suspect was charged with robbery with homicide and direct assault upon an agent or person in authority.

Daguinsin, a 24-year-old student at De La Salle University–Dasmariñas (DLSU-D), was found dead inside her dormitory room with 14 stab wounds on March 28.