Suspect in slay of Pines stude detained

BAGUIO CITY – The suspect in the killing of a 16-year-old student from Pines City National High School here December last year is now detained.

City police director Chief Supt. Ramil Saculles said motive of the killing was due to online gaming.

The case was considered closed, he said.

 The lone suspect, a 17-year-old fellow student, was reportedly arrested April 11 this year at Queen of Peace.

He was charged with robbery and homicide and is now detained at the Social Development Center here in Balenben, Irisan.

Supt. Johnson Smith Abellera served the arrest warrant on the minor issued by Judge Mia Joy Oallares-Cawed of Regional Trial Court Branch 4.

No bail was recommended. Saculles said both the victim and suspect frequently played games in computer shops in the area.

The victim allegedly incurred debts to be able to play his favorite computer game.

Saculles said the suspect initially wanted to steal the cell phone of the victim, whom he knew and played with in the past.

He however killed his friend who sustained at least 40 stab wounds.

The suspect is now under the care of SDC Bahay Pag-asa, a 24-hour child-caring institution established, funded and managed by local government units and licensed or accredited non-government organizations.

The establishment provides short-term residential care for children in conflict with law, who are above 15 but below 18 years of age, and who are awaiting court disposition of their cases or transfer to other agencies for jurisdiction.