Man checks into motel, found dead in parked car

MANILA, Philippines - Police are trying to determine whether there was foul play in the death of a man whose body was found in his car hours after he checked into a Pasig City motel Saturday night.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Lino Calingasan said crime scene investigators discovered that an improvised hose was attached to the vehicle’s exhaust pipe while its other end was extended inside the car, which was still running when it was found Sunday afternoon.

According to reports, Robert Benedict Remiscal, 22, checked in alone into the Victoria Court-Hillcrest Drive in Barangay Oranbo at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, parking his white Ford Lynx (XHJ-170) at an enclosed parking area just below his room.

When the roomboys conducted a routine room check at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday, they discovered the unconscious victim at the driver’s seat of the vehicle.

The motel management called up the police, who declared the victim was dead.

Calingasan said the engine and air-condition unit of the vehicle was on. Initial investigation showed that the victim could have inhaled smoke coming from the vehicle’s exhaust pipe.

Crime scene investigators also discovered “drug paraphernalia,” several tablets of Valium (a brand of tranquilizer) and an empty bottle of liquor inside the car.

Police admitted there is a possibility that Remiscal committed suicide, but Calingasan ordered a deeper investigation. Remiscal’s body was taken by a funeral parlor for autopsy.