Man killed in Quezon City robbery

MANILA, Philippines - A 50-year-old man was killed when robbers broke into a house he shared with a 64-year-old female cousin early yesterday in Quezon City.

Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano, Quezon City Police District investigation chief, identified the victim as Enrico Esguerra, single, unemployed, and a resident of Barangay Damayan in San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City.

Elenzano said Esguerra succumbed to a lone puncture wound in the nape.

Police said the robbers stole the victim’s N93 cell phone, Sony DVD player, a laptop and a digital camera.

SPO3 Juan Mortel, officer-on-case, said Esguerra’s cousin, Mely Sta. Ana, who occupied the second floor of his two-story house, found the victim’s body around 9:30 a.m. yesterday.

Sta. Ana said she last saw the victim alive at around 8 p.m. Monday. She said she left him after a short chat and then went to sleep in her room on the second floor. She said she noticed nothing unusual in their last meeting.

When she awoke around 9:30 a.m., she went to the victim’s room to wake him up but found the door closed but unlocked, which was unusual.

When she opened the door, she found the victim face down on the mattress on the floor. The victim’s head was covered with a plastic bag. She said the room was in complete disarray.

Sta. Ana and nephew Rico Juvida confirmed that the victim’s belongings were missing.

Elenzano said the incident must have happened past 9 p.m. Monday. No witnesses have surfaced. Police theorized the victim may have been killed because he knew his attackers. The fatal weapon was missing at the crime scene and was believed taken by the robbers. – Jerry Botial