ANGELES CITY - Police yesterday arrested a man suspected of murdering nine people, including three foreigners and two Negrenses, after his father lured him out of hiding.

Computer technician Mark Dizon is suspected of killing an American, a Canadian and a Briton and Negrenses Janet Adraneda Mirchell, 53, and Isabel Fajardo, 30, of Cadiz City.

He was arrested by plainclothes police in a square in San Fernando City,  after his father arranged to meet him, police officials said.

"Mark Dizon tried to fight his way out. But he was eventually overpowered by our policemen," said Senior Superintendent Danilo Bautista, police chief of Angeles City, where the killings took place.

The suspect drew a small pistol and tried to resist, Bautista said, quoting members of the arresting team from Angeles.

The suspect's father, Jun Dizon, who was in contact with his 28-year-old son, had asked to meet in the square, saying he wanted to talk to him, said Bautista.

"His father was scared his son would be killed during the manhunt," explained district police head Chief Inspector Luisito Tan.

Dizon is suspected of killing American Albert Mitchell, 70, Briton James Porter, 51 and Canadian Geoffrey Bennun, 60, their three Filipina partners and three Filipino domestic helpers in separate attacks in Angeles this month.

He allegedly killed his victims with a 9mm pistol and then stole electronic gadgets from their homes, which he then pawned.

All the men were retirees and lived in separate gated communities that are popular with foreigners in Angeles, located just beside a former sprawling US base.

Dizon would befriend his victims and gain their trust before entering their communities on the premise that he was going to repair their computers, officials earlier said.

The suspect is being taken back to Angeles where he will face charges of multiple murder, said Bautista.*AFP

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