BULACAN—A retired employee of the Social Security System (SSS) was stabbed dead by three men in Hagonoy, Bulacan, Wednesday night, police said.

The victim, Anselmo Espiritu, 70, was attacked allegedly by Armando Arellano, Ryan Alvarez and Melnard Garcia, police said.

Emil Espiritu, a relative of the victim, said the suspects bought softdrinks from a nearby sari-sari store before they followed the victim home.

"Bumili rin ng saging yung tiyuhin ko. Pagpasok niya ng bahay sumabay nang pumasok yung tatlo. Dun na nangyari yung krimen."

(My uncle bought bananas and the three suspects went along with him when he went home. That was when the crime happened.)

Arellano and Alvarez, who admitted being under the influence of alcohol, were immediately arrested. Garcia was arrested in Quiapo, Manila.

Garcia admitted stabbing Espiritu four times in the chest using a 14-inch knife.

According to Hagonoy police chief Heryl Bruno, robbery is a possible motive since the suspects heard that Arellano was lending money.

"Ang motive is robbery dahil narinig nilang nagpapautang dahil pensyonado pero wala silang nakuha dahil nagmadali silang makaalis dahil dumami na ang tao."

(The motive is robbery since they heard that he (Espiritu) has pension and lends money but they were not able to get anything since they were in a hurry to leave.)

Arellano earlier surrendered to authorities because of illegal drug use while Garcia admitted that he is using illegal drugs, police said.

The suspects are facing murder charges. --with reports from April Rafales, ABS-CBN News