Man, 81, found dead

CEBU, Philippines - An 81-year-old businessman was found dead by his neighbor inside his house with stab wounds on his head past 6:00 a.m Saturday at Sitio Sambag 1, Barangay Babag in Cebu City.

Amancio Sigue, a sari-sari store owner engaged in money lending, was found by Roselo Jacinal, 42.

Jacinal told Cebu City Police Office's Homicide Section investigators that he went to Sigue's house to borrow a disposable lighter from the victim.

Jacinal called the victim's name but he received no reply from the old man so he decided to open the door.

The victim, Jacinal told police, was lying dead on the floor made of bamboo so he quickly told their neighbors and asked for help.

Sigue's family initially called the services of a funeral parlor but the embalmer refused to embalm the victim's dead body when he noticed that there were stab wounds on his head and his blood was spilled on the ground.

After the funeral parlor's refusal Sigue's family asked the help of PO3 Edilberto Gabucan detailed at Cebu City Public Safety Company.

SPO1 Ruth Violango who conducted investigation told The FREEMAN that it took a while for the family to report the incident to the police because they thought that the victim died a natural death.

"Actually ang pamilya nagtuo nga natural death ra maong nanawag sa punirarya, mibalibad ang embalmer kay nakakita og samad sa ulo," Violango said.

When investigators together with the victim's son, Julito, searched the house, they found out that an estimated amount of P30,000 cash and his cellular phone were missing.

"Nagpa-utang og kwarta ang tiguwang, wala na iyang kwarta ug cell phone," Violango said.

She said that the victim was possibly robbed before he was killed.  (FREEMAN)