FB photo leads cops to killer call boy

MANILA, Philippines - A photo posted on Facebook led to the arrest of a 27-year-old call boy, wanted for killing one of his clients in Manila last week, at a mall in Quezon City Thursday night.

Police officers from the Manila Police District’s homicide section, led by Senior Inspector Rommel Anicete, caught Michael Mendoza at the second floor of the mall at around 6 p.m.

Mendoza was identified through the photo posted on the Facebook account of salon supervisor George Zapata, 49, who was stabbed dead in his unit at the Sagana Tower condominium in Sta. Mesa on Feb. 17.

Anicete showed the photo to condominium security officer Antonio Adremesin, who identified Mendoza as the person who accompanied Zapata to his unit during the wee hours of Feb. 16.

Two of Zapata’s friends said Mendoza was the same man Zapata picked up at a mall several weeks earlier and brought to his unit.

Mendoza told The STAR it was the second time he went with Zapata, adding that he met the victim when the latter was with two friends.

He said that on Feb. 16, they had sex in Zapata’s unit but the victim paid him only P200 for his “services.”

“The argument led to blows and I was able to get a (pair of) scissors and stab him repeatedly,” Mendoza said.

Anicete said Mendoza thought he committed the perfect crime because nobody saw him leave the building after killing Zapata.

Adremesin said he did not notice Mendoza leave the building, but he later found out that Zapata’s neighbors heard sounds coming from the ceiling of their units.

Zapata was found lying on his side, with stab wounds on his hands and knees. Investigators said this indicated that the victim struggled with his killer.

A nine-inch knife, which had been twisted, was found at the scene. Zapata’s mobile phone was missing.

Anicete said the suspect was charged with robbery with homicide.