MANILA - A suspect in the killing of a guidance counselor of University of the East (UE) in Sampaloc, Manila was arrested Wednesday, police said.

The suspect, identified as 29-year-old construction worker Peejay Romero, was arrested on board a Dalin bus along Quirino Highway near SM Fairview, Quezon City at around 6 a.m.

Police operatives said they received information that the suspect would meet his live-in partner at Dalin bus terminal in Cubao Wednesday morning.

They said Romero's partner arrived at the terminal at around 4:30 a.m. She was then tailed by the police, which resulted in the apprehension of the suspect.

Recovered from the suspect were a piggy bank containing P15,000, cellphones and other items belonging to the victim, UE guidance counselor Rowena Calo.

Romero is now facing charges of robbery with homicide.

The suspect admitted killing Calo by strangulation after the victim chastised him for being drunk. He also admitted stuffing the victim's mouth with a rag.

Romero and Calo live in the same apartment.

However, the suspect denied raping Calo. He said Calo was found naked inside her home because she had just gotten out of the bathroom when the incident occurred.

The lifeless body of Calo, 42, was discovered Tuesday after she was unable to report for work on Monday. -- Reports from Zyann Ambrosio, ABS-CBN News; Zhander Cayabyab, dzMM